Serkan Ipekli
Turkey
Vulcan Coffee Qatar
Please tell us a little about yourself:
I’m a passionate about the coffee business in all its spheres. I’ve been working for coffee companies for almost 8 years from now.
I started in my home country, in Turkey, while I was studying music at the university. It was later on when I found myself as a barista competing in coffee championships. 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 on 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 of Vulcan Coffee Project .
How did you get started in coffee?:
When I was studying music at university I started to work as a barista.
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
What are you excited to do while you are in Brazil?:
RODIZIO and PICANHA!
What was your first amazing experience with coffee?:
Training my girlfriend for the Spanish Brewers Cup.
What is your favorite coffee brewing method and why?:
Definitely Chemex, and I will explain why during the competition day while I’m competing on stage =)
What coffee-producing country most interests or excites you?:
I cannot say only one country but I can say Ethiopia, Colombia, and Yemen excited me a lot!
What are your interests outside of coffee?:
Is there anything other than coffee?!
Where do you see yourself in 5 years?:
Have a coffee farm on Mars with Elon Musk =)
Is there anyone you would like to thank or recognize, or who helped you to prepare for the competition?:
Elena Gonzalez Perez, AKA Princess (Director of my life), my family, my coach Asli Yaman, the La palma y El tucan team, Vulcan Team, and my many Qatari friends.
—
