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C Story / Zhoe Zhang
Mikael A t the 2024 World Barista Championship in Busan, Mikael Jasin’s presentation

broke fresh ground. He persuaded the judges to put down their pens and
score pads and follow him, roaming from station to station, doing breathing
exercises and meditating before taking a sip of his exceptional coffee. The
concept of “mindfulness” is extracted from Jasin’s personal barista career and life at large.
Jasin: Being the champion in Indonesia and placing fourth in 2019 WBC in Boston and seventh
in 2021 in Milan, Jasin decided to walk away from the competition. He expressed that the
fervors which once fuelled him had begun to wane, setting the stage for his final presenta-
tion at this year’s championship. However, Jasin didn’t stop on his barista career path. He
retired backstage and helped other Indonesian baristas to win championships. He started
companies and cafes that served the people on the farm, in the industry, and in coffee
shops, bringing Indonesian coffee to the world stage. He also practiced mindfulness, which
Brewing Change Through helped him in his career and life. And eventually, the unique coffee-drinking journey filled

with mindfulness crowned him this year’s champion. Now, being at the top of the world,
Mindfulness Jasin is looking forward to amplifying his coffee philosophy further.

Finding Coffee

Mikael Jasin’s chance encounter with coffee was not romantic. After finishing his
master’s degree in marketing in Australia, Jasin felt confused about his future career, just
as most fresh graduates do. He first worked as a barista only to fulfill his daily needs in
Melbourne. After exploring the Japanese philosophy of ikigai, which focuses on discov-
ering life’s true purpose and joy, Jasin realized that coffee is not just a passion but also a
talent of his. Moreover, coffee provides a sense of purpose for both him and others.
Melbourne is a great place for any beginner barista, as the city is immersed in rich
Photo / Aditya Bhagas coffee culture. Looking back, Jasin felt lucky that his coffee-making skills, from tamping
and steaming to extraction, were very well trained in Melbourne, thanks to making hun-
dreds of cups every day. He recalled: “It was like if you’re not quick and consistent enough,
you’re going to die. Melbourne has strengthened my basic technical skills. It influenced the
beginning part of my journey as a barista competitor.” Starting from washing cups in the
back kitchen, Jasin eventually made it to head barista at Operator 25 and then Middletown
Cafe. However, he didn’t feel fulfilled, thinking he could achieve more than serving coffee
behind the bar.
An opportunity fell on his lap back home in 2017. He was invited to become the
marketing and coffee quality control manager for the Common Grounds Coffee Roasters,
a prestigious Indonesian specialty coffee brand. It was not an easy decision. The pay for
baristas in Melbourne was tempting, but Jasin knew he could display more talents back
home. He said: “I know in terms of money, it was going to be less, but in terms of further-
ing my career, it would accelerate much faster. When I pictured where I would be in five
years’ time, I knew I made the right decision moving back to Indonesia. It would take me a
while, but I would get to where I need to be.”
The concept

of “mindfulness”

is extracted from

Jasin’s personal

barista career

and life at large. 37

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