Patrick Varga
Slovakia
Grande Café&Bar
Please tell us a little about yourself:
I am 23 years old. I started in coffee in 2012 when I was 17. My first job was at local coffee shop just at the weekends. Thanks to my school, I got a chance over the summer to go to Germany for a few months, where I worked full time as a barista. In total I worked 4 summers in Germany and after I finished high school, I moved to Zürich, Switzerland where I currently live and work at Grande Café&Bar.
How did you get started in coffee?:
While studying gastronomy school in Slovakia I started to work at a local coffee shop at the weekends in 2012. Seeing all these passionate baristas and learning from them, I fell in love with coffee. A few years after it became my full time job.
Please list the coffee competitions you have participated in, what year they took place, and your results:
2016 Slovakian Latte Art Championship – 1st Place
2017 Slovakian Latte Art Championship – 2nd Place
2018 Slovakian Latte Art Championship – 1st Place
What are you excited to do while you are in Brazil?:
The first thing that I am excited about is of course competing at the World Latte Art Championship. I am looking forward to meeting new baristas, make new friends, learning new skills, and finally seeing a country I have never been to. After the competition I will stay another 2-3 weeks to travel around.
What is the most unusual vessel you have poured latte art into?:
The most unusual would probably be a wallnut shelf or 1cl cream plastic “cup” that is served with coffee usually.
What is your secret to making great latte art?:
1. training
2. more training
3. even more training
and maybe …. more training
What are your interests outside of coffee?:
I like to swim, cycle, eat good food, and sing loudly when nobody hears me!
Where do you see yourself in 5 years?:
In 5 years I see myself teaching people about coffee and latte art.
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