Famous coffee ambassadors

Of course, coffee – a drink that has captivated the taste buds of people around the world and goes far beyond being just a morning energizer – has its own fascinating history. It has the pioneers who revolutionized how we perceive and consume coffee, as well as baristas who elevated the beverage to new heights. The invaluable contribution of these ambassadors will forever remain part of coffee culture’s history because it transcends any single country or nationality. Today, we will tell you about just a few representatives of this aromatic culture.

Alfred Peet – the “godfather to coffee” 

One of the most prominent figures in coffee history is Dutch American entrepreneur Alfred Peet, who had a deep passion for coffee and its roasting. In 1966, Peet founded Peet’s Coffee in Berkeley, California, a company that always worked with small batches of fresh coffee. His commitment to quality and meticulous attention to detail became the foundation for what would later turn into a thriving coffee business.

Peet’s Coffee quickly gained a reputation thanks to its hand-roasted beans and distinctive flavor characteristics, attracting a loyal customer base.

Alfred Peet’s passion for high-quality coffee and his dedication to sourcing beans from reputable growers paved the way for the specialty coffee movement.

The creator of the first Italian espresso – Ferenc Illy

Many people claim there’s nothing better than Italian espresso, yet they may not know that the first true Italian espresso was actually invented by a Hungarian. Ferenc Illy realized that if freshly roasted beans were stored in hermetically sealed containers under high-pressure nitrogen instead of oxygen, they would retain their aroma. The vacuum packaging he invented is still used around the world today.

Just two years after founding Illycaffè, a company that continues to this day, Ferenc Illy created a new invention in 1935: the world’s first automatic steam espresso machine, which he named Illetta.

With this method, coffee is brewed under high pressure below boiling point, resulting in a perfectly thick, foamy, aromatic drink whose taste lingers for a long time.

Today, Illycaffè remains one of the best coffee brands in the world, and its iconic logo continues to grace the cups of espresso lovers. 

Baristas who took coffee to the next level 

These are the people in whose hands coffee becomes a work of art, and who can be rightfully called “coffee artists.” They possess deep knowledge of various coffee beans from around the world. A great barista who has tried all types of coffee must have an exceptional palate to discern differences between beans and know how to adapt recipes to meet customers’ preferences.

James Hoffmann – the coffee guru 

Photo: Instagram / jimseven

Who would have thought that a boy from northwest England would become the World Barista Champion at age 28 and later a star of specialty coffee festivals, with YouTube videos on how to make pour-over or latte at home garnering more than four million views?

At the age of 23, James Hoffmann began selling home espresso machines. That’s when he came across the book “The Devil’s Cup” by Stewart Lee Allen. Although the product was right under his nose, he had never seriously considered it. Only after reading this book did he truly become interested in coffee.

In 2007, James earned the title of World Barista Champion, firmly establishing his status as one of the leading experts in the field. 

Hidenori Izaki 

Photo: Instagram /hide_izaki

Surprisingly, globally renowned baristas are not as widely known to the general coffee-loving public as one might expect. At least not among casual coffee drinkers. However, among professionals and specialists in the industry, champions hold a special place thanks to their skills and expertise.

Hidenori Izaki is one such champion. He won the World Barista Championship in 2014 and also coached Sasa Sestic, the 2015 World Barista Champion.

In addition to his championship title, Hidenori also contributed his expertise by founding a coffee consulting company called Samurai Coffee Experience, which allows him to travel the world and provide coffee education programs such as roasting training and product development. He also serves as a technical consultant for Nuova Simonelli, a company that produces coffee brewing equipment.