What Broke Was the Glass, Not Laura
It’s been seven years since Spain last held a Brewers Cup, and somehow, she ended up being the one to break that silence. But long before she held a trophy, she once shattered something else: a glass server. Right there on stage. Mid-press. Total chaos!
HUDES | Worldwide Digital Magazine for Manual Coffee Brewers
“It exploded everywhere,” she told us, laughing. “And I still got second place!”
That moment sums her up pretty well, someone who takes brewing seriously, but never forgets to enjoy it. From working at Starbucks during college to discovering specialty coffee in New Zealand, Laura’s been on a quiet, steady journey that’s more about love than perfection.
 |
| LAURA COE - Spain Brewers Cup champion. |
We caught up with her fresh off her win to talk about what brought her here: the coffees, the creativity, the cracked carafe, and why brewing filter still feels like home. With Laura Coe, the 2025 Spain Brewers Cup champion.
Hello Hudes readers, I’m originally from California and moved to Spain 12 years ago. I studied Global Studies at university, which inspired me to travel and eventually brought me to Spain. My passion for brewing began during my university years while I was working at Starbucks. At Starbucks, I had the freedom to experiment with different coffee beverages, and that’s where my coffee creativity really took off.
After living in Spain for a while, I spent half a year in New Zealand, and that’s where I truly entered the world of specialty coffee. I started working as a barista, and my co-workers inspired me to brew better coffee. I remember being amazed at how incredible they could make a cup of coffee taste.
My love for brewing filter coffee really deepened after I competed in the Aeropress Competition. I started trying different coffees and began to understand flavor profiles more deeply. I also began collecting various brewing tools and experimenting with countless recipes at home.
My first coffee competition was the Aeropress Competition in Spain in 2019. I won first place in the regional round for the Balearic Islands. The following year, I competed again and placed second in the same region. That was also the year I learned a valuable lesson: never press an Aeropress over a glass server. Mine shattered right in the middle of the competition as I was pressing it down!
I had been dreaming of competing in the Brewers Cup for a long time, but Spain hadn’t hosted one in seven years. So this year was the first real opportunity I had to compete. I started preparing as soon as I heard the competition was finally returning.
I love brewing filter coffee, but what drew me to this competition was also the chance to be creative and to share something meaningful with a wider audience.
What I find most special is being able to tell the story of a specific coffee. Connecting with the producer, and then having the chance to share their work with others, feels incredibly rewarding.
I chose to present two coffees because I used the Sibarist Dual filter. The first was a Maragesha variety produced by Wilder Lazo in Colombia. This coffee has been special to me ever since I first tasted it a year ago. The floral notes, citrus, and tropical fruit flavors truly make it shine. I had the chance to visit Wilder in March, and I was deeply impressed by the love and care he shows for each coffee plant. I’m so happy I chose one of his coffees to brew.
The second coffee I used was a Mikava Gesha Nebula Natural, produced by Paul Doyle. This coffee was also incredibly special. I found an abundance of berry and floral notes, and I knew it would be the perfect complement to the Maragesha. I was particularly fascinated by Paul’s processing method, he uses a very long fermentation, which results in a unique and beautiful balance of sweetness and acidity in the cup.
My presentation was centered around the idea of love in every step of the coffee journey, from the love of the producer who grows the coffee, all the way to the moment the judges express their love by tasting it.
The most meaningful moment for me came at the end, when I finally got to serve the coffee to the judges. I was so happy to share Wilder’s coffee with them. That moment felt truly special to serve what I felt was the best expression of that coffee, and to hope that they loved it as much as I did.
One of my newer rituals is to always look for the positives first when evaluating different recipes. Whenever I try a new brew, I start by noticing what’s beautiful in the cup. Only after appreciating what works do I begin thinking about how to improve it.
This approach was inspired by my friend Dara, and it’s helped me stay grounded, especially in moments when I need to make important decisions. It keeps my focus on growth, rather than perfection.
I felt inspired by everyone around me. Their creativity, their passion, the way each competitor brewed incredible coffee while also finding their own unique way to express what mattered to them, it was all so impressive.
Being surrounded by that kind of energy reminded me to never give up on my dreams. I felt a deep sense of connection, not just with the competitors, but also with the judges and the audience. They weren’t just watching; they were part of the moment. You could feel how much they loved coffee, how happy they were to be there. That shared passion really moved me, and it made me want to keep working hard and cherish every connection along the way.
Post a Comment