Erhan Dizbay, Turkey
Kaizen Specialty Coffee
Please tell us a little about yourself:
Q - Instructor - SCA Authorized Specialty Coffee Trainer (Coffee Skills - Coffee Technicians Skills - Coffee Sustainability)
SCA Turkiye Cup Tasters Champion 2026
SCA Turkiye Barista Champion 2026
I’m the Co-owner of Kaizen Specialty Coffee in Antalya, Türkiye — a minimalist, Japanese-inspired Specialty Coffee Bar built around the idea of continuous improvement.
Alongside that, I run a coffee training academy, offering SCA courses and consulting Hotels, cafés, and hospitality brands internationally.
I started competing in 2014, and over the years it’s become a huge part of my coffee journey.
After several near-wins, I finally became the 2026 Turkish Barista Champion and Cup Tasters Champion, I’ll proudly represent Türkiye at both the World Barista Championship in Panama and the World Cup Tasters Championship in Bangkok.
Competition, for me, is the purest form of Kaizen — every year, I come back a little better, a little more refined.
It’s not about trophies; it’s about growth, discipline, and storytelling through coffee.
I also love how it connects farmers, roasters, and baristas in one shared pursuit of excellence.
It started simply — making coffee at home — but I quickly fell in love with the science and craft behind every cup.
That passion led me to pursue five SCA Diplomas and become an Authorized SCA Trainer (AST).
Now, I teach, compete, and consult around the world — still chasing the same feeling I had the first time I tasted truly exceptional coffee.
What are you excited to do while you visit the WCC city?
I’m most excited to connect with the global coffee community in one of the most dynamic café cultures in Asia. Bangkok has this incredible energy — it’s creative, high-quality, and unafraid to experiment, which is exactly the spirit of the World Coffee Championships.
Personally, I’m looking forward to:
Exploring local specialty shops — especially those pushing new fermentation styles, Thai origins, and alternative bar setups.
Tasting Thai coffees from emerging microlots; I love seeing how producers here are using innovation and post-harvest process to create unique flavor profiles.
Meeting fellow competitors and judges outside the competition stage — the conversations at cafés, street night markets, or over a late-night bowl of noodles are often where the best ideas happen.
Sharing my Kaizen concept with new audiences and hopefully inspiring the next generation of baristas to think long-term about improvement, sustainability, and craft.
What are your interests outside of coffee?
Travel, Cultures, Basketball
Is there anyone you would like to thank or recognize, or who helped you to prepare for the WCC?
My Coach Jasper de Waal, My sister Defne Kizilirmak, My Co-Coach Nisan Agca,
