– Can you please introduce yourself in a few words.
I’m Jaantje, 26 years old, living in Antwerp and working in Brussels. Perfectionist, coffee lover and creative soul.

– What’s your story in the coffee industry?
At first I started working in a more commercial bar, as I was still learning everything there was to know about specialty coffee. It’s a very tricky bussines to be part of, when you have little experience. But besides the little experience, I for sure had a lot of passion. So I started doing courses, going to bars, reading books. After one year I competed for the Belgian Latte art Championship, and I won. After this championship, I started to be in the picture. Funny part is, I never was interested in latte art, but it gave me the upportunity to prove myself.

– What’s your specialty and what makes you different?
What always interested me the most, was hand brewed coffee. If it would only be about espresso, I would probably not even work in this bussines. I just finished my professional brewing course, and would love to become an AST one day.

– How/when have you discovered about specialty coffee?
I never drank coffee when I was younger. I only drank tea, cause I hated the bitterness and burned taste it left on my tongue. While I was studying in England, I had a Norwegian friend who took me to this specialty coffee bar and ordered me a clever dripper. I didn’t really have any expectations, but from the moment I had my first sip until we left the bar I couldn’t stop talking about the taste I experienced in my cup. Frankly, I was really upset that no one ever told me, coffee could also be something else then the burned cup I once tasted at home.

– What was your best coffee experience?
When visiting Norway, I once had a cup of filtered coffee that tasted like pure blueberry jam.

– Do you prepare coffee at home ? If yes, what method do you use?
Every morning before work, I make a V60.

– How do you like your coffee? Black, sugar and milk, iced, vietnamese style,…?
Black FOR SURE. Usually I make a V60, but Chemex or Clever Dripper I like too.

– How would you qualify yourself as coffee drinker (occasional, heavy, addict…)?
During the morning I’m definitely an addict, cause I can’t wake up without my cup of coffee.

– Have you always been into the coffee industry? If not, what was your previous job?
I studied photography, but got to know about specialty coffee during my studies. So I never really had an other vision of my future besides coffee.

– Do you have another passion or a hobby besides coffee?
I am a creative soul, always looking for ways to express myself.
Lately I’m painting and writing a lot.

– What other place would you recommend, anywhere in the world (coffee or not)?
Jacobsen Og Svart is a coffee bar in Trondheim, Norway. In this bar I had several cups of coffee that blew my mind.

– What is/are your favorite website(s) to get information about coffee?
I never really was the type of girl looking for stuff online. I spent more time experimenting or talking about coffee with friends or colleagues.

– What would you say to people who don’t know much about coffee?
One day you’ll love it.

Published by

Thomas

Thomas Wyngaard est fondateur de OK Coffee et un des rares experts en Café de Spécialité en Belgique francophone. Il est consultant indépendant, enseignant (certifié par la Specialty Coffee Association de janvier 2018 à avril 2021), tour-ist et broadcaster. Après avoir été formé en France, en Pologne et en Estonie, il fait ses armes chez les meilleurs en Belgique, pour ensuite migrer pendant presque 2 ans à New York où il a officié comme conseiller et formateur. Au-delà de la formation sur les métiers du café, il collabore avec des torréfactions belges engagées sur la reconnaissance du café de spécialité, œuvrant ainsi à un monde meilleur “one bean at a time”.