[Press Release] Gwen of Virtuoso Coffee to Join Judging Panel at The Barista League Tokyo
Virtuoso Coffee is proud to announce that Gwen Nguyen, co-founder of Virtuoso Coffee, will join the official judging panel at The Barista League: Asia, taking place in Tokyo on June 11th.
Recognized as one of the most dynamic and engaging coffee events in the world, The Barista League brings together top baristas in a fast-paced, team-based competition format. Participants are challenged through creative and technical coffee tasks, evaluated by a panel of respected industry professionals.
Gwen will be joining an esteemed lineup of judges, including:
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Yasuo Ishii, Founder of Leaves Coffee Roasters
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Miki Suzuki, Three-time Japan Barista Champion and 2017 World Barista Championship Runner-Up
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Shinsaku Fukayama, World Latte Art Champion and Australia Latte Art Champion
The event will be hosted by:
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Toshikazu Muromoto, Global Partnerships Director at Standart Magazine and Editor-in-Chief of Standart Japan
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Hide Izaki, 2014 World Barista Champion and Founder of Cokuun
Gwen’s participation reflects her continued contribution to the global specialty coffee community, bringing her expertise in sensory evaluation, roasting, and farm-to-cup coffee development to an international stage.
“We’re honored to be part of an event that celebrates creativity, craftsmanship, and community within coffee,” said Gwen. “The Barista League has always been about pushing boundaries while keeping coffee fun and accessible. I’m looking forward to experiencing that energy in Tokyo.”
Virtuoso Coffee will continue to share updates as the event approaches.
About Gwen Nguyen
Gwen Nguyen is a Vietnam-born coffee professional based in Japan, recognized for her expertise across the coffee value chain—from farm to cup. She is a CQI & SCA Q Arabica Grader, a World and National Coffee Championship Judge, and holds certifications from the Espresso Academy Italy and the Specialty Coffee Association (SCA) in Roasting and Coffee Trading.
With a strong focus on sensory precision, sustainable sourcing, and craftsmanship, Gwen actively contributes to international coffee competitions, education, and industry development.
About Virtuoso Coffee
Virtuoso Coffee is a Tokyo-based specialty coffee roastery dedicated to masterful craftsmanship and direct farm relationships. Founded by a husband-and-wife team with over 20 years of experience in Japan, Virtuoso sources coffee directly from trusted producers across regions such as Vietnam, Colombia, and Ethiopia.
Each coffee is carefully roasted to express its origin, resulting in clean, balanced, and expressive profiles for both filter and espresso. Through a commitment to transparency, quality, and continuous refinement, Virtuoso Coffee connects farms to cups across Japan and around the world.
