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“It’s important when introducing a new project to
prove that the product can deliver,” Patrik Rolf said of this
gutsy move.
The risk paid off. Patrik Rolf was runner-up overall
and achieved the competition’s highest cup score. That’s
when he knew he was on to a winner.
Patrik Rolf now admits that competition success was
critical to the product’s future: “In all truth, I never con-
sidered launching the Brewer if we didn’t get the highest
Open Service Score in the competition. Luckily we did and
I think with that we justified the need for a new brewer.”
On his return to Copenhagen, the Brewer went into
production. It will be available for online purchase from
May — adding inventor and entrepreneur to Patrik Rolf’s
growing list of job titles. He takes the same approach to
running his business as he does to coffee, underpinned by
beliefs that he can always do better and a lot can be learnt
from others.
Lending a Helping Hand

This business philosophy and a desire to put some-
thing back into the industry he loves, prompted Patrik Rolf
and his colleagues to launch the April Athletes program.
Patrik Rolf also wanted to give competitive baristas some
of the knowledge and support he feels was lacking in the
early days of his own career.
“April Athletes started as a result of me reflecting on
how I got started as a competitive barista many years ago,”
he revealed. “The truth is that there is very little guidance
when it comes to these things. You often have to invest a
lot of money in consultants and so on to get a chance to The COVID-19 pandemic forced the championships Q&A Personally, what origin well Colonna-Dashwood — a three-time UK Barista Cham-
understand what the judges are after. I have been to be postponed from May. The pandemic has hit the hos- of coffee is your favor- pion, three-time world finalist, author and founder of
through that process myself, and I know how difficult it pitality and tourism industries hard, with coffee shops, ite one? Colonna coffee — does is always very interesting.
can be.” cafes and restaurants forced to close their doors in cities Costa Rica Coffee, very
That’s why April’s leaders give ‘athletes’ their time, across the globe. much based on our partner farmer Alejo Castro from Vol- What do you like to do with your leisure time?
expertise and competition coffee for free. It’s Patrik Rolf’s “Naturally, this is a challenging time for everyone in cán Azul. I believe the work he does is fantastic and you I go to the gym to practice my body and I read and write to
way of supporting the next generation of baristas and the industry,” Patrik Rolf said of the pandemic. “In times can taste it in his coffees. practice my mind. If there is time over I like to take trips
encouraging them to aim high in their own coffee careers. like these, we need to take care of each other. I hope that to London to eat udon noodles at Koya.
Patrik Rolf is looking forward to seeing the progress businesses stay true to their vision and come out healthy Do you have a mentor in the coffee world?
of five April athletes when they compete at the 2020 World and well on the other side.” I don’t look for guidance, inspiration or mentorship in the
Barista Championship due to take place in Melbourne, In the meantime, Patrik Rolf will stay true to his vi- coffee world. Most of the mentors I have today are people
Australia in November. sion to create the world’s best coffee. that passed away many centuries ago. However, what Max-

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