Niels te Vaanhold
Netherlands
Mocca d’Or
Please tell us a little about yourself:
My name is Niels te Vaanhold. I’m a barista for the Dutch coffee roasting company MOcca d’Or. I’ve Always worked in the culinary sector/ in gastronomics and more specifically in the coffee sector for over 6 years now. Last March I won our national cuptasting championship and made it into the finals of our national brewers cup. I became 4th during the Amsterdam coffee festival.
How did you get started in coffee?:
I used to work in gastronomics as a chef and as a waiter. But after a few years I got bored and I didn’t want to work night and weekend shifts anymore. So my boss told me that if I didn’t want that, that I should do a training or course to get other skills that my colleagues didn’t have. So after a few days I saw a picture of a cappuccino with latte art. And I thought that would we awesome if I could to that. I didn’t know anything about coffee at that time. But I thought coffee is the first “flavour” that people start their day with, and after a dinner its the last “flavour” people end the day with. So if I could make a good cup of coffee, better than most other places, then I can always make our costumers happy, and I can work during the day time.
Please list the coffee competitions you have participated in, what year they took place, and your results:
2014-2015 small barista championship in the North of the Netherlands – 2nd Place
2018 Dutch Brewers Cup – 4th Place
2018 Dutch Cup Tasting Championship – 1st Place
What are you excited to do while you are in Brazil?:
First of all I am realy exited to compete, and to meet other people from all over the world. And to learn new things. After the event I have planned to stay a few extra days in Brazil to visit some coffee farms for the first time.
What is your favorite coffee to cup?:
Washed Kenya or Ethiopia, because of the bright acidity, and the nice and sweet fruity flavours.
What are your interests outside of coffee?:
Cooking, baking, fishing, and cycling.
Where do you see yourself in 5 years?:
I like the job that I have now. Maybe one day I would like to open my own shop with a roastery in the east part of the Netherlands, because there is not a lot of specialty coffee around there. I think it would be nice to change that.
Is there anyone you would like to thank or recognize, or who helped you to prepare for the competition?:
My colleague Judith Konsten for all her patience to set up the cupping sesions and arange coffee for me. My sponsors: Mocca d’Or, BWT (best water technology), Earth water, Moccamaster (Technivorm).
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