Community is important for our team at Acaia. Every year, as part of our community support, we sponsor a range of local & international industry events and barista competitors. We offer barista sponsorships to support and encourage a more diverse lineup of competitors. There are many obstacles for competing baristas on both the national and international levels. We hope the program will help them on their journey and achieve their goals on a more equal world stage.
Ngoc Nguyen Hai is a first time national competitor for the Polish Brewers Cup competition. He represented All Good S.A in the 2025 Polish Brewers Cup. We are proud to have sponsored Ngoc with his Pearl S White scales, a 100 g calibration weight, and a 53 mm Portafilter dosing cup.
Why did you decide to enter coffee competitions?
I have entered coffee competitions because it is a natural way to progress and test my abilities. Besides that, I had the great opportunity to meet up with other coffee enthusiasts and competitors.
Competitions are among the greatest ways to learn, have fun, and thrive.
How was your experience during the competition? Did you have a theme to your routine? How did you build it?
I recall my experience as a pleasant journey leading to the competition. The final stage performance was quite stressful, but after a minute or two, I got used to it and focused on preparing my recipe for the compulsory round. I have used my favorite Aeropress brewer. I used an inverted brewing style. It was such a blast to flip it during competition time. It was a risky but satisfactory experience for sure.
What are your thoughts after competing? Will you compete again, and will it be in the same competition?
You should be equally prepared for the Compulsory and Open Service rounds. I will test myself in next year's Brewers Competition. Besides that, I am excited to use one of my Acaia scales while preparing for the Latte Art Competition. A precise, slick, and elegant scale for measuring a specific amount of milk is a must.
How did you use your sponsored Acaia products?
Acaia scales have been a tremendous help for me with preparation and during stage competitions. I used three scales simultaneously to weigh and time-keep my recipes.
What's coming up next in your journey with coffee?
I will explore other types of competition besides SCA officially organized events. I do love to test myself thoroughly in different circumstances. Maybe in the future, I would like to curate green beans and turn them into the coffee we drink daily. Roasting is an excellent way to train your palette.
How was your energy right before your turn to compete? Did you feel focused, anxious, excited, or all the above?
My energy in those times was low. I found myself yawning to nourish my brain with oxygen and maintain calm. Excitement mixed with the right amount of anxiousness is the thing I feel before every competition.
What is one tip that you have for aspiring competitors?
Compete in whatever you can! Competitions come and go. You need to seize your opportunities before there is no more time. Talk a lot and learn from each other. We are stronger in the coffee group. Don't be tucked into the comfort blanket of individualism.
Thank you for sharing your competition experience with us, Ngoc!
Follow Ngoc's coffee journey on his Instagram: @pearly_ngoc