Jens Crabbé
Belgium
MOK Specialty Coffee Roastery & Bar
Please tell us a little about yourself:
I am 28 years old and founded MOK Specialty Coffee Roastery and Bar, in Brussels in 2012. I am also the 2014 and 2019 Belgian Cup Tasters Champion. MOK has a very international clientele, shipping coffee worldwide. We aim to improve quality and the supply chain, by working with the same farmers year after year as much as possible, to create a loyal and sustainable relationship. We only work with farmers and cooperatives who are truly dedicated to quality and innovation.
How did you get started in coffee?:
After leaving school prematurely I started working in bars, and developed a love for service, quality, and coffee! I started my own roastery and café at the age of 22, and 7 years later we are still focussing on integrity and quality.
Please list the coffee competitions you have participated in, what year they took place, and your results:
Belgian CTC 2014 – 1st Place
Belgian CTC 2017 – 3rd Place
Belgian CTC 2019 – 1st Place
What are you excited to do in Berlin?:
Meeting like minded souls, drinking natural wine, and eating street food. I’m also always eager to keep learning and improving by visiting colleagues in the business.
What is your favourite coffee to cup?:
Definitely not fresh crop Ethiopians, as they can taste very closed when they just arrive and tend to open up completely after a couple of months. My favourite coffees to cup are new or experimental varieties and processing methods. I always cup blind, and only buy what I really want to drink myself. At MOK we don’t make commercial decisions, we like to follow our hart.
What are your interests outside of coffee?:
I do a lot of rock climbing to unwind and clear my mind.
We organise pop-ups in our cafés at night, focussing on my two other passions: good, simple food and natural wine.
Where do you see yourself in five years?:
Still doing what I love, focussing on integrity and quality. Growth is not our main objective.
Is there anyone you would like to thank or recognize, or who helped you to prepare for the WCTC?:
I would like to thank my staff for supporting me and training with me.
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