It was only two people left, Agnieszka Rojewska and Lex Wenneker, waiting to hear their names and understand who is the new World Barista Champion. As you can imagine, you could cut the air with a knife as the tension was growing with every other name being called out. And finally, the first female Barista Champion that we all have been waiting for is here! Agnieszka Rojewska has a god given talent for coffee: just look at her competitions’ list and you’ll get it. No wonder why Sasa Sestic and the whole ONA Coffee family invited Aga to Australia to prepare and study coffee with them. As an independent contestant, Aga still had to keep up with work to support herself. That is why, after short period of training in Australia, she went back to Poland where she studied with YouTube videos. Being incredibly talented and skilled, she still seems very humble when you talk to her. And Coffee t&I was lucky to catch her for a small talk right before her life becomes incredibly busy.

Where did you grow up and what was the coffee culture there like?

I grew up in Mosina. Small city near Poznan where I live know. There coffee culture doesn’t really exist. Even though, my family drinks coffee and it seems like it is getting better and better for them as they learn. My first coffee was Instant coffee – like for most of the people here. I was 16 years old, and drank it just because I needed to study a lot in the evening.

How did you fall in love with coffee and entered coffee industry?

I was student in the University of Economics in Poznan. Coffee was my first job. I have entered the industry by accident – I was just looking for a part time job for summer.

By now, I’ve been making coffee for more than 10 years. First I fell in love with latte art and then, after 5 years in the industry, I had an amazing espresso and started to focus more on the flavour.

What mistakes did you make starting out in your coffee career?

I wasn’t asking questions, I tried to understand everything myself. I was also too shy to go to public cuppings try coffees and talk about them.  But I fixed that.

How did you start competing?

It was not my decision, my first coach made me do it.  And now it is even hard to say how many competitions I have participated in. Speaking of competitions, I don’t know if competitive is a good word to describe me. Competing for me is a way to push myself to learn, to research, that is why I do it.

How did you feel right after hearing that you are the new barista champion?

To be honest, I still cant believe it. It is a huge responsibility to be the first female Barista Champion and I don’t know if I will be able to handle it, but will do my best.

There is a huge discussion about gender bias in coffee industry. Do you think it is fair?

I believe that there are some thing that need to get better, especially now. To be honest, I have never felt anything like this on WBC stage or backstage while I was competing, maybe I was too focused on competing. But I am aware that when it comes to working there are some differences between men and women.

What challenges did you face during championships?

Every single thing is a challenge: coffee, theme, time, stress.  WBC is one big challenge, especially for your head.

What would you recommend to other female (and not only) baristas that want to compete?

First of all: try without expectations, learn from it.

Second: try again

Third: read the rules

If you were not in coffee industry, what would you do?

I guess  I would work in some big corporation.

How do you want to use all the attention and fame you receive now? Any plans for the future?

First I need to absorb this information and think of it for a while to get used to and then planning the future. But I think the most important thing to do is to go back to education of our customers with extraordinary service that will provide knowledge and great experience to every coffee user.