Simon SunLei, China
Marus Coffee
Please tell us a little about yourself:
My name is Simon Sun Lei, and I'm from Suzhou, China. I'm the founder of Marus Coffee. My greatest passion is basketball, but in 2012, I stumbled upon specialty coffee and realized I had found the career I wanted to pursue for life. So, I officially became a barista in 2013 and began competing national championship in 2017. I feel fortunate to have had the opportunity to participate in professional competitions within the coffee industry I love, and to win championships while competing and exchanging ideas with best baristas from around the world. This is my second time to compete in WBC, and my original aspiration for the competition remains unchanged, I've always hoped to showcase my passion for specialty coffee and my innovations on the stage. I am extremely happy and excited about the upcoming event, and I look forward to seeing everyone in Milan.
What are you excited to do while you are in Milan?
Coming to the birthplace of Italian coffee, we are able to fully experience the rich history of coffee and beverages, visit historic attractions and architecture, and above all, experience traditional Italian cuisine and wine. I hope that both myself and the team can draw more collective inspiration about coffee beyond the competition.
What are your interests outside of coffee?
Travel and outdoor sports.
Is there anyone you’d like to thank?
First, I would like to thank my wife who did everything for me, and has been fully supporting me in the competition, along with the support and help of the Marus Coffee team. For many years, Ethan Huang has been my assistant to help me in competitions, and Vincent Jiang has been my coach. Charlotte Wang has given me a lot of professional advice, and Cindy Zhao, Scott and many other friends have also supported me. I am very grateful to everyone.
