The Korean espresso professional speaks in regards to the love of festival and his enjoy tasting this yr’s coffees.
BY KATRINA YENTCH
BARISTA MAGAZINE ONLINE
Pictures courtesy of International Espresso Occasions
When creating a occupation exchange to espresso, many aspiring pros instinctively take a look at their native café to peer if there are any openings. For International Cup Tasters Champ Kyoungha Charlie Chu, then again, his transition to espresso could be a complete dedication—one who required touring to a completely other continent to take action.
A number of years in the past, Charlie served as a qualified soldier whilst finding out safety carrier at college for 4 and a part years in South Korea. He totally immersed himself on this planet of espresso via transferring to the espresso capital of Melbourne, Australia, to do that.
Because the newly topped International Cup Tasters Champ, Charlie spoke to us about his adventure from beginning as a espresso beginner to ultimately changing into a espresso sensory mastermind, who lately gives particular categories for others to additionally hone in on their tasting abilities.
Katrina Yentch: Maximum of your enjoy is with Cup Tasters. What attracted you to this festival and what do you favor maximum about it?
Kyoungha Chu: I’ve labored as barista for the ultimate six years. When It have been over two years, I steadily began feeling (the desire) to take a look at myself on the time as a barista, and I had learned that I had to strengthen my sensory abilities in the second one part of 2018.
Whilst I used to be looking to glance up strategies for sensory coaching, I discovered that there’s a Cup Tasters Championship in espresso competitions. As soon as I discovered that, I began having a look it up, and ultimately watched the Australian Nationwide Cup Tasters festival in individual at MICE in February of 2019. It was once the cause to make my will more potent and extra motivated to problem for it.
(That is) as it was once probably the most goal festival amongst the entire competitions in my eyes, as there are handiest goal solutions within the cups with out a judgment or analysis from other folks. That was once beautiful sexy and intuitive to myself, who had no festival enjoy.
There were a couple of rounds of quarantine and time clear of competing. I listen that numerous Cup Tasters competition will minimize out further highly spiced or flavorful meals to arrange for festival, however what did you do to arrange and the way a ways prematurely given the cases?
I used to have a time for meals eating regimen for the former competitions in Australia. On the other hand, I didn’t have any meals nutrition sooner than and all through the sector festival as a result of I knew that It will be tricky to stay it in Italy, which is in another country the place I hadn’t been sooner than.
So, I simply attempted to steer clear of very robust or highly spiced meals no less than sooner than and all through the contest length.
What was once your first espresso task and what do you now do?
My espresso occupation started in Melbourne, Australia.
I went to Australia in April of 2016 to enjoy operating as a barista first as a result of I hadn’t have any enjoy within the espresso business sooner than going to Australia—except for finding out espresso itself for 2 and a part years in Korea.
Actually, I went to Australia to paintings as a barista.
In the meantime, whilst I used to be operating as barista, I additionally began instructing many scholars, from the best way to make espresso to the best way to style espresso all through the time that I used to be “rising up“ as a barista.
I used to be operating within the bar at ONA Melbourne till sooner than the sector festival this time. Recently, I’m again to South Korea, the place I’m at the start from, since the Australian border is closed at the present time, making ready for my subsequent steps.
What are one of the most maximum difficult coffees you tasted all through Cup Tasters?
There have been some coffees very identical, they usually didn’t have sufficient distinct traits as forte espresso, reminiscent of Brazilian coffees, which might be frequently used for coffee blends. (Or a few of them may’ve been Asian-origin coffees.)
The ones have been beautiful difficult units in each and every spherical that I spent an extended time with than different units, with espresso having extra distinct traits.
What recommendation would you give to somebody who is simply starting their adventure to compete in Cup Tasters?
I wish to give recommendation in a much wider point of view, now not simply referring to handiest Cup Tasters competitions.
I’ve realized such a lot of issues all through this global espresso tournament.
Assembly many other kinds of people that paintings in several sections within the espresso business, discovering the tales reminiscent of how they paintings, what they do, what they would like, and so forth. The ones issues made me ready to get wider views at the espresso business and low itself.
Additionally, it was once very much spectacular with the intention to watch performances of different competition, and I may really feel how a lot effort they placed on for the level and what which means it will be for them. Subsequently, I will be able to with a bit of luck say that participating in any of the competitions might be very significant to any person who needs to take it sooner or later, and it’s in reality price it to take a look at out.
Whilst you’re now not competing, what are some spare time activities you revel in out of doors of espresso?
I’ve two glaring spare time activities out of doors of espresso. One is basketball and the opposite is making a song. I’ve performed basketball since I used to be 16, and it contributes giving extra power to my lifestyles, and I’ve realized vocals for the ultimate yr. It’s beautiful arduous, however amusing as smartly.
I simply need to take a look at them up to I will be able to, and revel in them greater than sooner than. Finding out one thing I’m taken with is an overly glad factor for me.
