The World AeroPress Championships: Kristina Bakhtoiarova
Qatar’s AeroPress Champion, and mega coffee enthusiast, Kristina Bakhtoiarova, is the next World AeroPress competitor to answer our questions. Read more below and follow her journey on instagram: @bahtoyarushek.
Why did you choose to enter the AeroPress Championship?
I’m all for any type of coffee meeting. Competition always give me inspiration in my daily routine and brings new opportunities which I never miss. Maybe that’s why a Ukrainian girl is now living in Qatar. I’m new here and this is the best way to find new coffee friends. The AeroPress Championship is my favourite because it’s a lot of fun.
What’s your favourite way to make coffee (other than AeroPress of course!)?
Actually, AeroPress is my favourite one for any situation, but the V60 makes me fell like a scientist and puts me in a kind of meditation.
What led you to using the AeroPress?
I think it is the easy way to make a great cup of coffee everywhere. I love camping and once I asked myself how I was supposed to make coffee in the wild? At that moment, on the top shelf, sparkled the AeroPress and it was my best discovery.
Which grinder will you use for the competition and why?
I will use any grinder that will be provided by the WAC. Grind size plays an important role in the quest for great recipe. However, it doesn’t matter which grinder, just as long as it’s high quality, but what else we can expect from World Championship? Right?
How did you get in to the coffee industry?
It was 5 years ago. I drank coffee from childhood: my mom used to wake me up every morning with a cup of flavoured coffee. When I was a student, as is typical, I needed to find a part time job. In the local newspaper I found an advertisement with the title ‘Wanted: Coffee Manager.’ I didn’t understand what that meant but without any doubt I sent my CV because of the word ‘coffee’…It was a great coffee company with an idea to made the best cup of espresso. I fell in love with this idea from the first second. After 2 years working as a barista, I moved to a big city and became acquainted with the Cup of Excellence, brewing methods, and a lot of amazing coffee people from all over the world. I got caught up in this incredible coffee world, with smart people and an idea to make this world better. And simply a part time job became my meaning of life.
What are you most excited about in coffee?
I can meet new people every day, I can learn something new everyday, I can be a scientist, psychologist, champion, the person who makes your day better, a traveller, a discoverer, a teacher, a mentor, and a student. I can be whomever I want because of coffee. This coffee world makes me happy and excited everyday.