Joe Mc Taggart | German Comandante Champion

Job and currently city?

Community Manager/Specialty Coffee at Ligatura (Coworking Space), Saarbrücken, Germany

What means coffee to you?

Creativity, for ideas, for bringing people together. It is also beautiful in ist complexity and fascinating because of ist journey, one which joins the lives of complete strangers on different sides

Why do you love Comandante, where do you know Comandante from?

Understated quality created by individuals with a passion for reaching the highest of standards. I discovered Comandante whilst admiring it on a shelf at „The Barn“ in Berlin.

Why did you apply for the Comandante Championship?

I was in „The Barn“ listening to Raphael and Bernd giving a really great, interesting talk about how they developed the grinder and someone came around asking about the Championship that afternoon. After hesitating at first, thinking it was ´pros-only´, T realised that joining in was definitely the more fun option! If you aren#t in it, you can’t win it!

What is your passion (engine) behind being a Barista?

There is a feeling that#s hard to explain when you take great care to make someone something to eat or drink.... I think form e it is a connection to other humans, and fort hem it ist he connection that they feel tot he space, to what they are drinking and eating, and hopefully to others around them too. Ist about bringing people together.

What are your further goals?

My parents and I are developing Saarbrücken#s first speciality Coffee Cafe (www.Brewbrothers.de) in Ligatura (www.ligatura.co), in local Coworking Space so it’s a busy time at the moment building that and spreading our love for great coffee! It would be a dream come true to see Speciality Coffee establish itself in people#s hearts and minds, and I hope to never stop learning new things!

How was the feeling to be a part of the „Comandante Championship“ for you?

Genuinely, it was one of my favourite days of all time! Every single moment was fun, even when it started to get nerve-wracking, and everyone was so nice and in such a good mood! I really hope to take part in another one soon.

Recommendation for „Comandante Championship“ competitors?

Hold the grinder near the top to keep it more stable; count the number of your grind setting. Keep the body pretty still (grind steady) and it’ll usually work faster, since the beans sit more nicely in the burr. As for how to win? Hey, I really have no idea how I did – I guess just make sure you enjoy it and follow your taste buds! Have fun!