To judge a competition like Coffee Masters™, we had to recruit the best of the best for our panel of judges and MCs. Comprising of legendary names from the world of specialty coffee, we are delighted to announce…

THE JUDGES

ANNE LUNELL - HEAD JUDGE
 

Swedish Barista and Brewers champion and the visionary behind Koppi, Anne is an internationally respected and well-loved coffee roaster from Sweden. Having been Head Judge of Coffee Masters – New York and London since their inception, there’s no one more up to scratch on what it takes to be a Coffee Masters champion.

TYMIKA LAWRENCE



Tymika fell into coffee rather accidentally eight years ago as a barista, and never looked back. Since then she’s been a cafe manager for Stumptown, a trainer, and wholesale account manager and educator for Counter Culture Coffee. Currently working with Atlas, Tymika is just as passionate about people as she is about coffee. She currently serves on the SCA’s ED&I task force, and Sprudge’s inaugural advisory board.

DAVID DONDE



David’s Cape Town based cafe, Truth Coffee, has been named the best in the world by countless newspapers. He believes in results, individuality and playing on people’s strengths. The one thing he hates? Excuses.

JUAN CARLOS DE LA TORRE



Carlos de la Torre is the founder of Cafe Avellaneda and co-founder of Cafe con Jiribilla, a coffee shop and a roastery in Mexico City. During his professional career he had achieved the 2012 Mexican Cup Tasting Championship, 2015 & 2016 Mexican Brewers Cup Championship, 2018 & 2019 Mexican Barista Championship and 2019 L.A. Coffee Masters.
At the moment he invests most of his time in Ratiorama, a collaborative project  promoting up-coming roasters, coffee shops and coffee professionals from the specialty coffee scene in Mexico in a monthly subscription format to build a closer community between consumers and professionals.

DAVIDE ORAZI (Guest Judge for the Quarter Finals)



Based in the London but originally from Italy, Davide has been in the specialty coffee industry for about eight years and he’s currently the Coffee Operations Manager at WatchHouse. No stranger to coffee competitions, Davide took home the New York Coffee Masters title in 2022 after placing 3rd in London a few months before. Care and attention to details are the main things he’s looking for and we’re really excited to have him as a guest judge this year.

 

THE 2023 MC's…

 

James Wiise



In 2017, Wiise achieved an extraordinary feat by winning the prestigious Coffee Masters competition, cementing his status as a standout figure in the coffee scene. What sets this accomplishment apart is the remarkable pace at which James rose through the ranks, driven by an unyielding thirst for improvement and an insatiable passion for coffee.
 
His journey continued as he embraced mentoring, nurturing and inspiring a new wave of baristas through talks, coaching, events, and active involvement in the coffee community. His work with leading businesses in various industry roles allowed him to develop a holistic understanding of coffee from bean to business.
 
However, James's creative journey didn't stop at coffee mastery. Fueled by his self-developed creative talents, he embarked on a fresh adventure into the realm of visual storytelling. This led to the creation of his creative studio specialising in crafting captivating graphics, photography, and video content for grassroots to global brands. While hospitality remains a focal point, there are no limits to the creative boundaries James pushes.
 
Today, James Wiise stands as a true creative force, transcending the boundaries of the coffee world, and making an enduring impact that extends far beyond. His boundless passion, unmatched creativity, and rapid ascent continue to inspire and shape the worlds of coffee and visual storytelling alike.

EV



EV has been working in coffee since 2005, dabbling in many aspects of the industry from barista to green buyer. After achieving her Q in 2016, she went on to win Coffee Masters NYC in 2017. Since 2020 she’s run her own consultancy with a range of clientele and making media appearances as a coffee expert. EV’s been busy helping new shops open, designing menus, intertwining the tech and coffee worlds, working with flavoring companies and most recently with Coca Cola. She’s excited to return to the stage to once again emcee Coffee Masters NYC.