Nikola Sunko, Ireland

Bell Lane Coffee

Please tell us a little about yourself:

I’m Nikola Sunko I worked in coffee for more than 13 years and began competing in 2025. I wanted to compete to challenge myself and to communicate the ideas I care about.

What are you excited to do while you visit the Panama city?:

I’m excited to explore the local food and coffee scene, walk around the city and spend time with coffee people from around the world away from the competition floor. Those informal conversations and new connections are often the best part of an event.

What are your interests outside of coffee?:

Most importantly, I love spending time with my wife, Marcela, and our young son, Rory.

Is there anyone you would like to thank or recognize, or who helped you to prepare for the WCC?:

I’d like to thank my wife, Marcela, for her patience and constant support, as well as Milena and my close friends Arvind and Renata from Brew Lab, whose honesty, encouragement and belief in me have helped shape the competitor I am today. I’m also grateful to my colleagues at Bell Lane for tasting and challenging my ideas, and to Enrique López for his trust, collaboration and extraordinary coffees.

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