He started out normally, like many. He took his first steps in the world of coffee in a local café. He later opened his own restaurant at one of the Maria Curie-Skłodowska University (UMCS) faculties, and after its closure, he moved to London to hone his barista skills in the best British coffeehouses. After nearly three years, he returned to Poland and began working as Head Roaster at LaCava. Three years later, he won the 2022 Polish Championship twice in the Roasting and Cup Tasters categories. And now he has a shot at the World Championship.

Get to know Alek Smęta better – our company’s Head Roaster.

Polish Cup Tasters Championship 2022 and Roasting 2022

The world of barista competitions is almost as rich as the aroma of freshly brewed coffee in the morning. Competitions are held around the world, pitting the best baristas, roasters, and other masters of the coffee craft against each other. It's not just a competition, but also an opportunity to learn and exchange experiences. A barista, a master in the art of coffee brewing, must master espresso brewing techniques, but also possess a keen sense of taste and the ability to create unique flavor combinations.

Among Alek's Polish Championship titles are Cup Tasters 2022 and Roasting 2022. Let's take a moment to look at these and other most prestigious competitions in the world of coffee.

Polish Cup Tasters Championship 2022

Cup Tasters Championships – where competition meets passion for tasting. The competition aims to determine the best coffee taster. The main judging criteria are the ability to identify different flavors and aromas and the speed of recognizing specialty coffees. During this competition, expert tasters demonstrate their mastery of discovering and appreciating the rich flavors hidden within the beans.

Polish Roasting Championship 2022

The Roasting Championships are designed to determine the ultimate coffee roaster. Participants must demonstrate precise control of the roasting process and the ability to explore the diverse flavors hidden within coffee beans. Technical prowess, creativity, and innovation in creating unique flavor profiles are evaluated.

Competing in the championship, Alek is doing what he does every day at LaCava, and he's doing it brilliantly. In other words, customers who buy beans from our roastery near Warsaw are actually drinking the best coffee in Poland.

Aleksander Smęt – future World Champion?

Alek will soon be competing in the World Championships. The next one will be held in Greece, and the next one in Taiwan. To mark the occasion, while he's still not surrounded by journalists, we decided to ask him a few questions.

Alku, has anything changed this year since winning Cup Tasters 2022 and Roasting 2022?

"Although a full year hasn't passed yet, I can already see that interest in our coffee is growing. We're roasting more and more pour-over coffees and light espressos for specialty cafes. Besides that, I'm still doing my thing and striving to be the best at what I do—nothing has changed in that regard."

How are you feeling ahead of the upcoming World Cup? Stress or euphoria?

"Both. I know the real stress will kick in when I get there. But I tell myself I do this every day. It helped last time, maybe it will help this time too."

I hope so! I still wonder what guides the current Polish Champion in selecting the perfect beans.

Juicy, fruity, and sweet – that's what I love most in coffee. This is the flavor of my favorite beans, which recently included Ecuador Grace Morales Flores – a new addition to LaCava's lineup and my pick for Limited Roaster Choice.

By the way! Perhaps a few words for those who haven't had the opportunity to meet her. Ecuador Grace Morales Flores, which we recently added to our offerings, is our new favorite bean (well, one of many favorites). The farm where it comes from is a family business run by Grace and her brother. Interestingly, coffee only accounts for 2% of the total crop there. Alku, why did you choose this particular coffee for your Limited Roaster Choice?

Grace Morales Flores prepared her coffee with honey processing, preserving the bean's character—its variety and origin—while subtly accentuating its sweetness. I want to demonstrate the same when roasting this coffee.

Okay, last question. What would you like to say to future Polish Championship participants?

"It might be a bit cliché, but I'll say it: if you want to win a competition, you have to enter it. You don't always win on the first try, and I'm a perfect example of that. I've participated in various competitions many times, with better or worse results. The important thing is to keep trying and strive to get better at what you do. And the second thing is that the rules are a manual for winning competitions. Read the rules!"

Thank you for the interview! Alek, we're keeping our fingers crossed!