Junior Vargas
Austria
Gota Coffee
Please tell us a little about yourself:
I am originally from Peru but I now live and work in Vienna, Austria. I was brought here by the love for my family, and passion for coffee. My passion started to take shape in my childhood, growing up in a coffee farm was my first contact with this industry. Now I run a coffee shop in Vienna (@gotacoffeevienna), and I am an AST. This is the second year that I’ve competed at the WBC, and I am extremely enthusiastic to be part of this exciting event.
What are you excited to do in Boston?:
There will be my first time in Boston, so it will be interesting for me to visit some coffee shops and see how the specialty coffee scene evolved there. I hope I will have time to plan a trip around the city, because at the moment I am only thinking about the competition and focusing on developing the best performance.
Please list the coffee competitions you have participated in, what year they took place, and your results:
Austrian Barista Championship 2018 – 1st Place
World Barista Championship Amsterdam 2018 – 39th Place, Round One
International Tiroler Meisterschaften 2018 – 1st Place
Austrian Barista Championship 2019 – 1st Place
How do you see the coffee industry changing in the future?:
Right now, the coffee industry is going through some difficulties in all stages of processing, from origin to the cup. Coffee companies, organizations, and the entire coffee community are coming together to support and contribute knowledge, financial support, and other resources to overcome these difficulties. I see that the actions we are taking now will define the future of this industry.
Where do you see yourself in five years?:
I am sure that I will continued to be involved with this industry, contributing to its development while growing professionally and as an individual. My goals and projects that I am now planning will hopefully be take shape soon and create value. I made a commitment to myself to work hard and show my best on-stage in order to be 100% satisfied with my performance. If this isn’t true in 2019, I am determined to persevere and get on stage again in the following years, until I have accomplished my goals. So, in 5 years I will probably still be on stage.
What are your interests outside of coffee?:
Traveling, visiting coffee shops, reading, and doing sport are some of my favorite interests. Every chance I have to be at home, I love spending time with my family, and cooking for them.
Is there anyone you would like to thank or recognize, or who helped you to prepare for the WBC?:
Firstly, I want to thank to my beloved and patient family and supporting team, for giving me the time to train and focus on this competition. I also want to show my appreciation to the Origin Coffee UK team, for their support at the national championship, and a huge thanks to my sponsor, Günter Stölner from Faema. And last but not least, I’d like to give a huge recognition to SCA Austria for the great job they did to make this possible.
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