Enki Suarez
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“What inspires me daily is the work itself,” says Juan “Enki” Suarez, a coffee buyer whose passion took root years ago in Venezuela. Back then, he was studying mechanical engineering, but a university strike forced him to look for something new. A weekend barista course offered a simple solution: keep…
IMNABJanuary 16, 2025
Suraj Bhandari
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“What inspires me daily is the work itself,” says barista and coffee consultant Suraj Bhandari from Nepal, now based in Dubai. This ex-pat found his passion in specialty coffee, championing Nepali coffee on the global stage. His story reflects the journeys of countless individuals who leave home in search of…
IMNABJanuary 8, 2025
Yunxian Li
![Xianxian at Cafe Modori]()
Meeting Yunxian Li, also known as Xianxian, a barista at Café Modori in Guangzhou, was a completely serendipitous experience—one that reminded us how coffee connects people who share a true passion for this beverage. After the bustling Shenzhen Hotelex, we spent two unforgettable days in Guangzhou, guided by Xianxian and…
IMNABDecember 24, 2024
Bilawal Khan
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Everyone starts somewhere. For Bilawal Khan, it began as a waiter in 2018, working in a café. He wasn’t initially aiming for a career in coffee, but something about the craft of making coffee sparked his curiosity. Watching baristas create intricate latte art and seeing the joy it brought to…
IMNABDecember 4, 2024
Jaye Sanders
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Jaye Sanders’ story isn’t just about coffee; it's about resilience, finding joy in the small things, and sharing that happiness. From New Zealand, she began working with coffee at 15, but it's her personal journey that truly shines. Jaye Sanders Jaye’ journey into the world of coffee isn’t marked by…
IMNABOctober 21, 2024
Kerem Köksaldı
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Kerem Köksaldı’s journey into the world of coffee didn’t begin with grand ambitions, but with a simple moment of curiosity as a 15-year-old in Istanbul. Standing outside a boutique café, mesmerized by the espresso machine, he thought, “I should be a part of this bar.” That single thought marked the…
IMNABOctober 15, 2024
Hugo Ferraz
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Hugo Ferraz’s coffee journey didn’t begin in the typical fashion of brewing lattes behind a counter or sampling espresso shots in a coffee shop. In fact, he wasn’t even a fan of coffee at first. Born and raised in Portugal, Hugo was a videographer and editor for national television. But…
Oluwatobifunmi OlaniranOctober 10, 2024
Gladys Kutakuta-Luzolo
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After spending over a decade immersed in the fashion and digital marketing industries, Gladys Kutakuta-Luzolo’s career took an unexpected turn during her expatriation to Seoul, South Korea in 2018. What started as a simple appreciation for coffee gradually transformed into something deeper as she explored the bustling city’s unique coffee…
IMNABOctober 3, 2024
Nikos Antzaras
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When people talk about the champions of Greece, Nikos Antzaras’ name is impossible to ignore. A two-time barista champion of Greece and a mechanical engineer by training, Nikos is a testament to resilience, passion, and the drive to make meaningful change in the coffee world. His journey from the lecture halls…
Oluwatobifunmi OlaniranSeptember 30, 2024
