Meet Stevo Kühn. To look at him, you make certain assumptions. He wears a lot of black, has masterpieces of tattoos, he's rather tall.
To meet him, you make certain assumptions. He is soft-spoken. An immediately intent listener. A gentle smile.
And then you get to know him a little. He is a husband and father of two. He has a steely determination. He is incredibly kind. He plays a mean bass guitar. And he is hungry. Hungry to learn. Hungry to educate people. Hungry for a big win.
His chance may come during the World of Coffee event, in June 2023, where the World Barista Championships is being held in Athens, Greece. The owner of Urban Brew Barista Academy based in Bloemfontein and award-winning barista trainer, Stevo recently became the South African National Barista Champion. His expression on winning can only be described as one of great relief. He poured all of that hunger into getting to this point.
This won't be the first time he is on the coffee world stage. He had an opportunity to take a spot in 2021 in Milan, when Winston Thomas the SA Barista Champion at the time deferred his place to the following year. It was all very last minute and he had almost no time to prep, so the result wasn't very good, but the opportunity was one he couldn't pass up. The experience was invaluable. The magnitude of being on the world tends to change one's perspective. Two of the big differences between local barista competitions and the big stage are; the quality of the coffee and the composition of a cohesive set, which largely comes down to the signature beverage. Stevo's international experience led to an exploration of sustainability in the form of a course that Stevo says "changed his life."
Like any good teacher, the continuation of your own education plays an important role in how well you can instruct others.
この記事は Coffee Magazine の Issue 43, Autumn 2023 版に掲載されています。
7 日間の Magzter GOLD 無料トライアルを開始して、何千もの厳選されたプレミアム ストーリー、9,000 以上の雑誌や新聞にアクセスしてください。
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この記事は Coffee Magazine の Issue 43, Autumn 2023 版に掲載されています。
7 日間の Magzter GOLD 無料トライアルを開始して、何千もの厳選されたプレミアム ストーリー、9,000 以上の雑誌や新聞にアクセスしてください。
すでに購読者です? サインイン
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A HISTORY OF EXCELLENCE
We travel to Costa Rica with Kate Burnett; specifically to a region that has been in the spotlight in specialty circles for the last couple of years. Volcan Azul, one of the farms run by the Castro family, has made waves with some of the best coffee professionals in the world showcasing their coffees on the world stage. But success doesn't happen overnight, and the effort is definitely worth the wait.
GRIPIT AND RIP IT!
Get your grind on with the new era of handheld grinders as we appreciate how far this gadget has come in recent years.
Hitting Right Notes
Retha van Rhijn is the 2023 South African Cup Tasters Champion and a woman of many talents
Oceanic Coffee
The accepted wisdom about coffee farming conditions is changing. Rory Kleu, an agronomist, investigates the possibilities of low altitude grown coffee and smashing the myths of the coffee belt.
Like a Rolling Stone
The City of Roses has always been a fertile breeding ground for some of South Africa's most competitive talents - now meet Bloemfontein's newest star - SA Barista Champion - Stevo Kühn! From humble beginnings, this talented human has followed his heart and his passion, and now spends his time travelling extensively both Nationally and abroad as a sought-after barista trainer, competitor and allround inspiring mentor to many in the rock 'n roll world of coffee!
