The Road to the World Barista Championships: Liliya Gadelshina

Russian Barista Champion (and finalist for the last four years), Liliya Gadelshina, answers our questions ahead of her competing as a competitor in the World Barista Championship at World of Coffee in Amsterdam. You can follow her journey on Instagram: @liliyagv

The WBC competition will take place at the Amsterdam World of Coffee on 21st to 23rd June this year. 

When did you fall in love with coffee?

I fell in love with coffee for the first time, when I tasted an espresso and I sensed in it different shades of taste, it really made me salivate. It was love from first mouthful. 

What was your first coffee job?

My first job in coffee was in the coffee shop "Koffein" in the city of Kazan. 

If you didn’t work in coffee, what would you do?

I always knew that I wanted to work with flavour, but I did not know what exactly it would be. Besides coffee, I was always interested in music and fashion.

What exceptional coffee will you be using in the WBCs in Amsterdam? Tell us about the coffee and what it tastes like.

It will be really unique coffee.

Who would you most like to make coffee for and why?

I love working with people who, like me, are passionate about coffee.

If you opened a café today, what would be on your first day playlist?

Arctic Monkeys and Adele

What’s your favourite way to make coffee?

Espresso & V60

What are you most excited about in coffee?

Development in the tastes, the breeding of new varieties, and, of course, the population of hastening coffee to the masses. Unfortunately, people still do not think much about what they eat and drink.