My Coffee Journey: Ten Years of Judging

2016 was a turning point in my coffee journey. That year, I became the first Q Grader from Iran, at a time when this kind of certification was still very rare in my region. Around the same period, I began receiving opportunities to take part in international coffee competitions and judging — from the Turkish AeroPress Championship to my first SCA-sanctioned judging experience at the Turkish National Roasting Championship, where I served as Head Judge. Many of those moments were never documented properly because I was not active on social media at the time. But they shaped everything that came after — how I taste, judge, teach, roast, and understand coffee as a discipline. For someone with my passport and background, the path was never straightforward. Visas, sanctions, residency issues, and political limitations made certain opportunities harder to reach. But the dream of contributing internationally, and eventually becoming a certified world-level judge, stayed with me. What started quietly in 2016 went on to shape many parts of my work — from judging and education to the people, teams, and communities whose growth I was fortunate to be part of along the way. Coming back from World of Coffee Belgium, where I served as a WCRC judge, this feels like a full-circle moment. The path was never easy, but the work continued. Grateful for the people, competitions, teams, lessons, and challenges that shaped this journey. Ten years of judging, learning, and service to the coffee community.