Kaisa Kokkonen
Finland
Kaffa Roastery
Please tell us a little about yourself:
I’m a barista & barista trainer at Kaffa Roastery in Helsinki. I host a pop-up café called Sunday Espresso Club, and last year I was part of the team who organized the first Helsinki Coffee Week. I haven’t competed much, but I’ve helped and coached the previous Finnish Barista Champion for many years.
What are you excited to do in Boston?:
I’m excited to see my old and new coffee friends in Boston, and hopefully to see the city, and eat in nice places.
Please list the coffee competitions you have participated in, what year they took place, and your results:
Finnish Barista Championship 2019 – 1st place
How do you see the coffee industry changing in the future?:
Hopefully in a better and more sustainable direction. I wish in the future the end consumers could have more direct contact with people who produce the coffee, and vice-versa.
Where do you see yourself in five years?:
I hope I’m working with awesome, inspirational people, and doing things that make me happy…and drinking even better coffee than now.
What are your interests outside of coffee?:
I love good food—both cooking at home, and eating in nice restaurants. I live in a city, but when I have any time off I like to go somewhere little bit more deserted and quiet, and swim in clear-water lakes.
Is there anyone you would like to thank or recognize, or who helped you to prepare for the WBC?:
I’ve got so much love and support from the company I’m working for, Kaffa Roastery. It is such an inspirational place to work. There’s so many people who I should thank but most importantly my all time favourite person, and the best coach I could hope for, Jarno—thank you!
—
