Andre Eiermann works as a marketing director at UCC Switzerland, but he has a demanding sideline occupation. So far in his career, he has become a Q Grader, built a Coffee Academy in Bern, he became the Swiss Barista Champion in 2017 and as such was the first Champion to have ever roasted his competition coffee on stage. It was at the World Barista Championship 2017 in Seoul, using another of his innovative methods, the nitrogen flush extraction.

Andre cannot miss any European coffee event, and we love him for all the energy he brings to the coffee community. He has gone through many professions in his life, but we are glad that he always finds his way back to coffee. We had so much fun recording this long podcast as Andre shared many interesting stories from his personal and professional lives. Anybody can benefit and learn from those!

You will hear Andre Eiermann talk about:

* Landing his first job in coffee without ever drinking coffee before

* Living in the coffee origins and tasting over 800 cups of coffee every day

* What is like to be a judge of the Cup Of Excellence competition

* How running ultra-distance races changed his life and brought him back to coffee

* Becoming the Swiss Barista Champion as a sideline occupation to being the Marketing Director at UCC

* The preparation for World Barista Championship 2018 in Seoul with Hidenori Izaki

* His innovative methods – Nitrogen Flush Extraction and roasting coffee on the stage

* Writing a book for all the competition baristas who want to learn from Andre’s experiments

* Freezing coffee and how it can extend the shelf-life of green or roasted coffee

* Discipline and how it can take you much further than talent

* What he likes about people in the speciality coffee industry

Listen to the podcast with Andre Eiermann:

If you like the European Coffee Trip podcast and don't want to miss the next episode, please subscribe on iTunes, Stitcher or Overcast.

Links from the podcast episode:

* Follow Andre on Instagram (amaxworld)

* Andre Eiermann on Facebook (watch his Facebook live streams!)

* Watch Andre's performance at WBC 2017 Seoul

* Ultra Trail Mt. Fuji

* UCC Coffee Academy

* Hidenori Izaki

* Sasa Sestic

* Gwilym Davies

* The Coffee Man Film

* Cup of Excellence

* Champions’ Hub

Damian Durda is among the special coffee people we have had the chance to meet in the early stages of the European Coffee Trip's history. Our interview from Poznan still reminds us of our first trip to Poland and the warm reception by the Polish speciality coffee family.

Damian has worked in coffee for over 10 years and after spending two years at Uno Espresso in Poznan, he took the opportunity to move to Berlin where he went through multiple roles at Bonanza Coffee Roasters before launching himself into a new business venture in Berlin. As a Head of Coffee, he was responsible for building a cafe and roastery called The Visit from scratch. Unfortunately, this business venture didn't end up well for him and he could not but leave his creation and the team. Luckily, this turn of events gave way to further opportunities. Damian went on to share all of his knowledge and skills with the coffee businesses around the world through Wave 3/3.

Damian seems to never slow down, and is on a move again! Damian’s next destination is Vancouver, Canada from where he will work as a Green Coffee Buyer for 49th Parallel Coffee Roasters.

You will hear Damian Durda talk about:

* His coffee blog Kawopijcy and why he doesn't write anymore

* Polish baristas and the speciality coffee scene in Poland

* What has driven the progress of his coffee career

* Building a coffee business from scratch in Berlin

* Important rules to follow if working with investors

* How failing in a business venture can turn into new life opportunities

* The typical mistakes he sees people do building roasteries

* What should people do in the six months prior the opening of their cafe

* How does Damian learn new things and who are his coffee mentors

Listen the podcast with Damian Durda:

If you like the European Coffee Trip podcast and don't want to miss the next episode, please subscribe on iTunes, Stitcher or Overcast.

Links from the podcast episode:

* Damian Durda on Instagram

* Wave 3/3

* Damian's blog Kawopijcy

* Interview with Damian Durda (2014)

* Tim Wendelboe

* Morten Münchow / Coffee Mind

* What I Know About Running Coffee Shops by Colin Harmon

Welcome to the very first episode of the European Coffee Trip podcast. In this podcast, our goal is to introduce you to some of the incredible people from the European speciality coffee scene. We will not only talk about coffee but also share some personal stories of our guests, together with the lessons they have learned throughout their career in coffee.

My first guest is Veronika Gálová Veselá. Veronika is twice Slovak Brewers Cup Champion and once Slovak Barista Champion. She runs a training centre in Břeclav, the Czech Republic where she delivers barista classes, but the training centre also serves as a lab for her development. Veronika dreams big, and it is easy to be absorbed by her energy.

Highlights of our conversation with Veronika

* Why would she not change anything about her 3 years employment at Starbucks in Prague?

* What was the best advice she received there?

* What were the lessons learned during 5 years as a competition barista?

* How much does it cost to compete on a local and an international level?

* What does it take to become an independent barista and how to create one's own training centre and a business around it?

Don't forget to subscribe this podcast so you don't miss the next episode!

Listen to the podcast with Veronika Gálová Veselá:

If you like the European Coffee Trip podcast and don't want to miss the next episode, please subscribe on iTunes, Stitcher or Overcast.