Catherine Queiroz, Switzerland
Neumann Kaffee Gruppe
Please tell us a little about yourself:
I’m originally from Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, and I currently work as Quality & Education Manager for Neumann Kaffee Gruppe in Switzerland. I got into coffee starting as a barista in my hometown, then end up on a plane to Zurich, where I built a pretty amazing path in specialty coffee (and made a lot of great friends along the way, which I’m super grateful for). Fun fact: my very first contact with the Cup Tasters Championship wasn’t competing at all: I was volunteering as a time-keeper for competitors at World of Coffee Brazil. After that, I caught the competition bug, competed as a barista, placed 2nd, and now I’m proud to be the current Swiss Cup Tasters Champion.
What are you excited to do while you visit the WCC city?
I’m really excited to catch up with coffee friends from all over the world and reconnect with the global coffee community. And, of course, after the competition is done, I can’t wait to finally dive into some properly spicy and delicious Thai food!
What are your interests outside of coffee?
Outside of coffee, I love travelling and experiencing new cultures through people, food, and music. I’m very active and enjoy sports like gym training, running, and cycling, but I’m especially drawn to activities that let me move creativel, so I’m very happy to be back to pole dancing. I also love Carnival, and back in Rio my friends and I play in street bands, which is always one of my favorite ways to celebrate my own culture and community.
Is there anyone you would like to thank or recognize, or who helped you to prepare for the WCC?
I’d love to thank my company and my team for supporting me with training time, equipment, and constant encouragement. A huge thank you as well to my coaches and friends, Niels and Judith, for all the guidance along the way. I’m incredibly grateful to my friends and family in Switzerland and Brazil for their love and support. And, of course, my biggest thank you goes to my partner in life, Luca: my coach, my biggest motivator, and the person who pushes me every day and is coming all the way to Thailand with me for this journey!
