CIC All Star: Cezara Cartes

Please tell us a little about yourself:

I have more than 16 years of experience in the coffee industry, spanning competition, education and strategic coffee development. I was the first woman in Romania to win the national Barista Championship and have earned multiple awards across the Romanian coffee scene. In 2023, I became National CIC Champion and World Vice-Champion, representing with utmost pride Romania on the global stage.

Alongside competing, I have worked at a strategic level within a multinational beverage organization, leading coffee expertise initiatives, developing professional standards and supporting the growth of international coffee brands across HoReCa and corporate environments. Today, I continue to contribute to the evolution of the industry as a judge at WCE-licensed national championships in Romania, while remaining closely connected to the craft, the people and the culture behind great coffee.

What are three fun facts about you?

Some days I don't drink any coffee at all.

I don’t chase perfection, I chase progress.

Sometimes I trust my instincts more than I trust recipes.

Why is CIC special to you?

The CIC is deeply meaningful to me because it connects my professional journey with my cultural roots. In Romania, brewing coffee in a small pot on the stove (the way our parents and grandparents did) is more than a method - it's hospitality, storytelling and tradition in every cup. Competing in and ultimately becoming World Vice-Champion allowed me to celebrate this heritage on an international stage and elevate a preparation style that has shaped coffee culture across Eastern Europe and the wider Middle East for generations. For me, CIC embodies the past, present and future of coffee. It's a  historic ritual transformed into a global specialty craft.

What are your interests outside of coffee?

When I am not tasting, teaching or judging coffee, I recharge in very different worlds. I am a big animal lover, the kind who will always stop to say hello to any furry, feathery or whiskered friend :) And I am an avid gamer and casual Twitch streamer. Gaming helps me disconnect, compete and enjoy fantastic stories where focus, strategy and skill take new shapes and where, naturally, fun always comes first.