Our Team
17g Coffee is a group of high school students, a few teachers and a coffee specialist, who started a journey to learn about this wonderful brew | beverage | product | drink | industry called coffee.
Life for most coffee producers is incredibly hard, and we want to understand how we can help improve the lives of those who work with this product. Our journey began by learning about different species and varieties of coffee, tasting the differences through the post-harvest processing, mainly natural and washed and discovering the history and brewing methods.
Following the SCA Barista curriculum we brewed coffee using and designing the best recipes to highlight and extract the unique flavors from each particular bean.
Since qualifying as Baristas, we have been serving our freshly roasted coffee to students and staff members our international school.
Class of 24
Hello, my name is Ivan and I am from Russia. During my second year in this school, I realised how many different opportunities the school provides for us, so I decided to try different things. Firstly I wasn’t very interested in 17G, but after a few weeks of being on duty once a week I’ve started to enjoy it and I am looking forward to continue taking part in this project, help it developing and just serving coffee for our students and school staff.
Ivan
Hello, my name is Marin and I am from Japan. I am a member of the class of 2025 and the youngest member of the 17G program, which I joined in 2022.
Ever since I was a child, I have been fascinated by latte art and the way that milk foam can be used to create intricate designs on top of a cup of coffee. Through my participation in the 17G program, I am excited to explore the world of coffee, learn about different brewing methods, and connect with a diverse group of coffee enthusiasts from all around the world.
Marin
Hi , my name is Irene and I’m from Romania ! My love for coffee began at a young age, watching my parents enjoy a cup of coffee in the morning. The aroma and comfort it provided was something that always caught my attention. As I got older, I started to appreciate the science and craftsmanship that goes into making a good cup of coffee. I’m happy to have joined the 17g programme this year !
Irene
Hi, my name is Ali
Ali
My name is Jude Alshaheen. And ever since I was young, I’ve always been around different traditions of coffee. In my culture we drink Arabic coffee which is a different twist on coffee, I am originally from Kuwait. I really enjoy making coffee for others, and seeing the smile on their face when they get their daily dose of caffeine :)
Jude
Hi, my name is Ami, I’m Japanese but I live in New York.
My coffee-addicted mom first introduced me to the world of coffee, and this motivated me to take hold of the barista course opportunity offered at school. Little did I know that this first step kicked off the rest of my barista journey.
From learning about the origins of coffee all the way to pouring its last drops for our customers, I was fascinated and eager to explore the depth and magnitude of the coffee industry and the brilliance of 17G. Being a member of this growing company, not only am I developing my skills on latte arts but I’m contributing and gaining insights in the path to grow a successful business. I am thrilled to be part of this ever-growing coffee family, and I wish to continue appreciating the complex range of notes in the aroma of coffee as well as collaborate and socialize with customers and fellow baristas.
Ami
Hello! My name is Kaera and I am from Japan. I was never interested in coffee because of its smell, but my interest in coffee arose ever since my roommate started drinking coffee every morning, that’s why I decided to take the opportunity and become a part of 17g. In this project, I learned the process of coffee making and developed the collaborative skills with other people though different projects/activities. This experiences helped me develop my latte art and business managing skills.
Kaera
Hi, my name is Liam and I’m from Germany. Since hearing about 17g in the school over the past 2 years, I decide to take a leap of faith and dive into the world of coffee by joining the 17g project. Since then I have only gained interest about coffee and loved latte art. I love trying all new sorts of coffee and trying to draw better designs on lattes.
Liam
Hi! My name is Will and I am part of the 17g specialty coffee team. I joined this team for the coffee brewing but also the many digital design, marketing and business opportunities it would give me.
William
Niclas
Hi, my name is Niclas
Class of 23
Hi I’m Max! I’m half Czech and Mexican. I was introduced to coffee thanks to my latin roots and have been an avid coffee enjoyer since.
My favorite aspect of this project has to be the way in which coffee allows one to connect with people. May it be chatting with the customer, sharing a heartfelt conversation with a friend over a cup of coffee, or having been planting coffee seeds with the very farmers in Kenya.
My favorite coffee has to be of the arabica from Costa Rica and served as a classic cafe-late. ☕️
Max
Hi, my name is Jessica! I currently live in Los Angeles but I am Brazilian and Iranian. I choose to get involved in this project because I love coffee and wanted to learn the skills to make a good quality coffee, while also learning the background of coffee. What I have enjoyed most in this process of learning, is how to make latte art. My favorite coffee is an iced latte with Brazil coffee beans that we sell on the website!
Jessica
Hi I’m Masha! I’m Russian and I joined 17G because I am passionate about coffee and I love learning about different brewing methods and flavors. I believe that 17G coffee is a company that shares my passion for high-quality coffee and I love giving back to people so I think 17G is the perfect way to give back to the communities of women producing the coffee!
My favorite thing about 17G is when I am working with others and customers tell me that the coffee tastes delicious.
I find it really rewarding to be part of a team that produces coffee that people enjoy. It makes me feel like I am contributing to the company's mission of providing high-quality coffee while also supporting women producers.
It's exciting to be part of a company that values education and encourages employees to expand their knowledge.
My favorite drink is a black tea with half a pump of vanilla syrup and an ice cube! Although I love coffee, tea has always been a huge part of my culture and upbringing so i’m excited to share a small part of my culture with others through different types of drinks in 17G.
Masha
Hi, my name is Mara and I am from Germany. I was introduced to the different kinds of coffees during the first lockdown in 2019, since then I found a passion for coffee, and how the flavours can be changed.
I was interested in this project, because it gave me the opportunity to find a good way of doing something that I like and that I am interested in, while giving something back to people.
My favorite aspect of serving coffees to customers is, that you get to know the person, without knowing them for a long time, in addition to that I also really enjoy practicing my latte art, which improved a lot since I started.
My favorite coffee is an oat milk latte with Brazilian arabica coffee beans.
Mara
Hello! My name is Sayaka Shiraishi. I am Japanese and currently studying in Switzerland, and I find pleasure in sharing the charms of coffee with others. I started getting involved in our coffee project since I wanted to open new doors for myself and enrich myself and others.
Sayaka
Hi, My name is Nicole and I am from China. I was introduced to coffee last year, and my interest never decreased ever since, it is now an inseparable part of me. The best thing about being a barista is being able to communicate with different people each day and also, improve my coffee-making skills. It is really rewarding when my latte art gets better day by day.
I am mainly involved in designing menus and business cards. This is a very big project and I am very glad that I’m a part of it.
Nicole
Hi my name is Rebecca and I am from Shanghai, China. I got involved in this project because coffee is a very interesting plant that has impact on both animals and humans. I like developing new skills and learning about different kinds of coffee. My favourite part of the project is making latte art.
Rebecca
Hello, My name is Niina! I am half Japanese and South Korean, and I love visiting cafes in Tokyo, where I live. Since I tasted coffee from the previous 17g members, I’m a huge fan of coffee. That is why I got involved in this project. This project is now a part of my school life which I’m proud of. I am delighted every time I learn a new technique in the process of making coffee such as latte art or a new menu and I love serving coffee to my classmates and teachers. I’d love to develop my skills more in both making coffee and marketing throughout this project.
Niina
Hello! My name is Nora, I am from Mexico City and I love to start my day with a nice cup of coffee. I enrolled in a barista course where I learned the life cycle of a coffee bean as well as some entrepreneurial skills. After this course, I had the amazing opportunity to embark on a trip to Kenya and experience firsthand the mechanisms in a coffee farm amongst the hardest working woman I’ve ever met. Little did I know all the hard work that goes behind the scenes to transform that little seed into a delicious universal drink. That small pleasure I took on drinking my morning coffee suddenly grew into a whole life experience.
I am proud to be a member of 17g Coffee as this non-profit company run by students encourages transparency in the coffee industry.
Nora
Hello! My name is Mikhail and I am from Russia
Mikhail
Alfonso
Hi, I’m Alfonso from Mexico
Tariq
Hi, I’m Tariq and I am from Oman
Druso
Hi, I’m Druso and I am from Mexico
Class of 2022
Azuki
Hi, I’m Azuki! I’m from South Island in Japan called Okinawa. I got involved in this project as I always thought it is so cool to work as a barista and I love the smell of deep and flavourful coffee beans. Now I have achieved my barista qualification, I adore seeing those smiles we get from our coffees. My favorite process in coffee making is latte art and writing a message on the cup for each customer. I suggest you all try out our filter coffee where you can discover the fruitiness of the coffee beans.
Alejandra
My name is Alejandra, I’m from Mexico City and I decided to get involved in this project because I’m interested in developing new skills and like coffee. I’m really enjoying being part of this project as I continue learning new things with unique opportunities. The area that I’ve enjoyed the most throughout this process is the tasting. I’ve also been attracted to the marketing element, learning the impact decisions related to this will have and how to overcome its challenge. My preferred coffee is arabica because it’s sweeter and fruity. And I tend to drink cappuccinos :)
Haruka
Hi, my name is Haruka and I’m from Japan. I decided to become a barista because I like coffee and I wanted to serve good quality roasted coffee to many people. My favorite coffee is Ethiopian coffee which we sell on this website. My goal is to make good latte art! I’m mainly in the branding team involved with many things we have been deciding for 17g coffee company. I hope I can serve you a coffee someday!
David
Hello, my name is David and I’m from Spain. I find making espressos the perfect way of disconnecting from the routine and focusing on improvement.
It’s always rewarding to see the smile of customers in the mornings who are stopping to have a good coffee. I want to give the specialty coffee farmers the credit and recognition they deserve.
I’m specifically intrigued by tasting the variety of coffees from different origins and describing our tasting notes. Finding excellence in the product is always the target.
Keisuke
Hi, Im Keisuke and I am from Osaka, Japan. I love making coffee and serving drinks with pride. I enjoy working with milk and trying new latte art! When I was 12 years old, I was interested in coffee for the first time in my life. My father took me to a café, and the master of the café taught me that there many kinds of coffee in the world and that they all have different characteristics. And he was right! I work hard on this project so we can give back to origin workers. My recommendation for a coffee is a cappuccino!
Katleen
My name is Katleen and I’m from Congo. I got involved with this project because I love coffee and wanted to learn how to make different types. With this project, I have learned about the origins of coffee and I also learned how to differentiate coffees based on smell and taste. The area that I like the most about the project is the workshops that we do once a week to decide what coffee we are going to serve to our customers and to learn new techniques. The coffee that I prefer is Arabica coffee from Ethiopia.
Lorenzo
Hello, my name is Lorenzo and I’m from Mexico, coffee is a really interesting hobby that I discovered recently. When this opportunity appeared, I learned a huge amount about the coffee industry and I discovered I really love the tasting and identifying flavours in coffee. I also learnt a lot about the challenges origin workers face in the coffee industry and want to help change this. My favorite coffee has to be the filter coffee with Colombian beans.
Kenta
Hi, I’m Kenta and I’m from Japan. The reason why I participated in this project is that I personally love filter coffee, I particularly like coffee that has high fruit notes. I’ve always been interested in becoming a Barista and really enjoy tasting different types of coffees. My favourite part of this project so far has been the tasting sessions we did to choose our final beans. I think we have a nice range of coffee from Ethiopia, Peru and Colombia.
Rina
Hi, I’m Rina from Japan. I love serving coffee, interacting with others and making latte art! I want to give back to the origin workers and improve their working and living conditions. The smiles of customers who I serve always make me happy and motivated. My favourite coffee is filter!
Martina
My name is Martina and I am a 17 years old. I am from Mexico and my favourite coffee is a flat white. I became interested in coffee one day out of the blue and now my teammates and I are hoping to make a difference and leave a legacy to help others. This is a great opportunity for me because I always wanted to be involved in marketing and business. This is is what I am doing here at 17g Coffee to make sure the best quality and service is provided to you!
Valeria
Hello, my name is Valeria and I’m from Colombia!
I took part in the Barista Course because I found it intriguing and thought it has potential for a new hobby of mine. I have learned new skills that help me make the perfect cup of coffee, and I believe that this is something that I will be using for life. I have learned about all the processes of making coffee and many different recipes for it, plus the challenges within the industry. This is a big project and I enjoy all the different aspects of it, but the part that I like the most is the marketing and the branding, as business management is my passion and it’s the first thing that the customers are going to notice of the brand! My favorite coffee has to be the Americano with Colombian coffee beans because it is the one that I have been drinking my entire life and it reminds me of my home.
Eva
Hi, I’m Eva. I think I can say that I’m a coffee addict, so when I heard about this opportunity, I wanted to join right away. I was surprised that we’ve learnt so much about the coffee itself, not only making a great Cappuccino. It’s fantastic to see how motivated our students are and how much they enjoy it. There is nothing better than smelling the fresh coffee when arriving at our campus in the morning! My favorite coffees are Azuki’s Cappuccino and a really strong and short Espresso.
Susanna
Hello! I'm Susanna. I am so happy to be involved in this project because the long-term aim is simple and amazing: to give back to the coffee farmers by selling and serving delicious specialty coffee. I am loving learning about the different coffee brewing techniques, I find engaging with our customers really fun and I'm enjoying (slowly but surely) improving my milk foaming technique and latte art skills. The best part of the project though is seeing the students' skills and passion for the project develop, this makes me really proud of them all. My favourite coffee is a flat white: I think the way the milk can enhance and change the flavour of the coffee is awesome and if it happens to have beautiful artwork on top that's just a bonus!
Stephen
Hi, I’m Stephen, I got involved with this project to give students the opportunity to gain real-life experience and hands-on learning, to learn a new skill and make a difference. I am incredibly proud of the team for their hard work and desire to improve the quality of life and working conditions of those in the coffee industry. My favourite coffee at the moment is Filter coffee from Costa Rica!
Andy
My name is Andy Prosser and I am a coffee specialist who runs courses for the SCA (Specialty Coffee Association). I am also a licensed Q Arabica and Q Robusta grader for CQI (Coffee Quality Institute). I was asked to be involved in this project from the inception of the idea and happily took the opportunity. I’ve realised that to change the culture and image of coffee, we need to start with the young generation. Coffee is an extremely volatile and difficult industry and our aim is to offer some support to farmers and to educate the students in where and how their coffee is sourced. It’s been an amazing journey to see how well they have progressed and I’m extremely proud of what they’ve achieved. My favourite coffee is filter coffee!