Serkan Ipekli
Turkey
Vulcan Coffee Roaster
Please tell us a little about yourself:
I’m a passionate about the coffee business in all it’s spheres. I’ve been working for coffee companies for almost 9 years from now.
I started in my home country, in Turkey, while I was studying music at university. It was later on when I found myself competing in coffee championships as a barista. In 2017 I moved to Qatar where I have focused all my efforts on growing the speciality coffee business in the pearl of Arabian Peninsula . In the last few years I’ve spent my time travelling to coffee-origin countries, learning from different experiences and focusing on the roastery and consultancy programs that I’ve established in Doha under the name Vulcan Coffee Project .
What are you excited to do in Boston?:
Brewing coffee and boston celtics =)
Please list the coffee competitions you have participated in, what year they took place, and your results:
2011 SCA Turkey Barista Championship – 3rd Place
2013 SCA Turkey Brewers Cup Championship – 2nd Place
2013 SCA Turkey Barista Champion
2013 SCA Turkey Coffee in Good Spirits Champion
2018 SCA Turkey Brewers Cup Champion
2019 SCA Turkey Brewers Cup Champion
How do you see the coffee industry changing in the future?:
I’ve always believe coffee is like a relationship for me — I’m happy that’s what I’m doing, and I hope to still be in a coffee bar serving coffee and sharing my passion.
What are your interests outside of coffee?:
Is there anything other than coffee?
Is there anyone you would like to thank or recognize, or who helped you to prepare for the WBrC?:
Elena Gonzalez Perez, AKA Princess (Director of my life); my family; my coach, Tetsu kasuya, AKA Tono Sama; the team at La palma y El tucan, Simon, Felipe, Sebastian, and Dani; and of course the Vulcan Team in Qatar.
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