To connect coffee lovers and professionals from all around the world, to inspire others, to make new friends.
Today we feature the story of :
KAAPO PAAVOLAINEN
Please tell us about yourself.
My name is Kaapo Paavolainen and I am an independent coffee consultant based in Helsinki, Finland. I am also the Finnish Barista Champion for 2020.
I don't have a lot of achievements yet but I've placed second a few times. I've been second at Finnish Brewers Cup 2018, Latte Art 2019 and Barista Championships 2019 but this time I finally managed to break the cycle of second place and got first place at our national Barista Championships. I've had a couple of popups, most significant one with Decent Espresso Machines last September.
I don't really see that I have a specific role within the coffee industry but I guess if I'd have to put it to words I'd say that I'm an educator of sorts. I try to demystify coffee as much as possible so that it is accessible to everyone who is interested.
What is your vision and goal?
What I want to do is open peoples perspective on coffee, that it doesn't have to be something bitter, strong, weird stuff that only hipsters and people who want to feel like they're special drink. I want to show people that there are so many flavors to be discovered and that the picture that people have about coffee might actually be something different if they are just willing to open their perspective a bit.
This is why I want to demystify coffee to the people, that in reality there is no "barista magic". When I entered "the scene" I noticed that I've kind of found my people but I also noticed that our scene of specialty coffee was also full of people who think they're better than the person next to them, people who don't share knowledge fearing that sharing their own findings might make someone else better. I want to change that or at least be a part of that change. I believe that we, as coffee professionals, should be as hospitable to each other as we are to our customers.
There is no harm in sharing what you know.
How did you get started in coffee, what made you fallen in love with it?
Unofficially I started when I was in high school back in 2011. A couple of other students and I, we had a "coffee club" of sorts. During our breaks and in between classes we were brewing different coffees, anything that was "special" we could get our hands on really, with a French Press.
Eventually I started to notice different characteristics between varietals and roast profiles and then at one point my friends and I got our hands on a Finca La Esmeralda Gesha from Colombia and it was then that it hit me. A realization that I had not known coffee to be able to taste like that. I think that specific Gesha was an early version of Esmeraldas Gesha lots and I still remember the distinct jasmine and peach flavor of that one coffee. After that eye opening realization I started to seek out different flavors, in coffee, in pretty much anything that can be had from a glass.
After that it has been just a one long road down an ever deeper rabbit hole. There was my first popup (specialty ice tea), then came my first barista job, then my second barista job, a third one. After the third one it dawned on me that I want to introduce something new and disruptive here in the coffee scene in Finland and in order to do that I had to go my own way to achieve it. I haven't reached it yet but I'm slowly but surely getting closer and closer.
If you weren't a coffee lover or professional what would you have done instead?
Honestly, I have not even thought about that. I think I probably would have wanted to be a teacher or an architect.
What is your favourite coffee beverage ?
I really enjoy a well made batch and hand brew, sometimes I drink espresso in one of the local cafes in Helsinki but mostly I enjoy making coffee at home where I can focus on it. At home I mostly drink hand brews but on weekends and when I have time to focus I enjoy an espresso.
What do you see as the major challenges facing the coffee industry?
The most immediate challenge for the hospitality industry is the ongoing Covid-19 pandemic, which is grinding the whole world into a halt. Many specialty cafes have to either temporarily, or worse permanently close their doors which will result in thousands of industry people being out of work.
Another challenge is that of green coffee market price which is driving coffee growers out of work or forcing them to switch to different and more economic crops. This is one of those things where we as consumers of specialty coffee can have a say on things by starting to ask for the info of how much money was paid for the farmer. This is also where greater transparency would play a massive difference for the overall health of the industry.
In the long run the most pressing challenge is that of global warming and its effects on coffee growing regions.
One tip to improve the coffee industry ?
I think there's nothing better right now than to be transparent with your information or knowledge. Hoarding anything never gets anyone forward.
What is your favourite quote ?
Oh there are so many. Many from songs, a lot from books and some by notable public figures but I think that my most favorite is by Joseph Campbell who said "Follow your bliss and the universe will open doors for you where there were only walls".