From Lithuanian Folk Songs to the World Brewers Cup

In June our barista Ieva Šuopytė from Vilnius represented Lithuania and KALVE at World Brewer’s cup in Brussels. We want to celebrate this very important milestone for Ieva and KALVE by telling you more about Ieva’s coffee choice, presentation and experience. 

The Inspiration Behind the Cup

Coffee competition is not only about the coffee, but also about the experience and story of the barista. It is about  "How do I brew the perfect cup?" and also "How do I tell a story that feels true to who I am?"

Ieva found the answer in her hometown and local tradition. Growing up in Lithuania, Ieva spent years singing sutartinės—traditional Lithuanian polyphonic folk songs that have been passed down through generations. Their name comes from the Lithuanian word sutarti, meaning to be in harmony, to agree, to act together.
Each singer performs a different melody. Individually, every voice is beautiful. Together, they create something entirely new.
That idea became the foundation of her World Brewers Cup routine.

Two Voices, One Cup

To express this idea, Ieva chose something equally remarkable: two Gesha coffees from Hacienda La Esmeralda in Panama, one of the world's most celebrated coffee farms and the producer that helped redefine specialty coffee after revealing the extraordinary potential of the Gesha variety.

Rather than presenting a single coffee, she created a blend of two separate Gesha lots grown in Hacienda La Esmeralda.

One coffee came from Cañas Verdes—bright, expressive and full of sweetness.

The other came from Jaramillo—elegant, floral and incredibly refined.

Each coffee was roasted separately, allowing its individual character to fully develop before being blended into a final competition blend of 70% natural Cabaña and 30% washed Noria.

From Recipe to Experience

Every decision in Ieva's routine supported this same idea. She brewed using the Hario Switch, combining immersion and percolation in a single extraction. One method brought sweetness and texture, while the other enhanced clarity and flavour definition.Even the water composition, roast development, and resting time were carefully considered to allow both coffees to express themselves in balance.The result was a cup layered with notes of floral honey, mandarin, tropical fruit, peach, jasmine and black tea—changing as it cooled, revealing new flavours with every sip.

Taste / Sensory Profile 
Aroma: Floral honey, mandarin.
Hot: Mandarin, black tea.
Warm: Strawberry, honey.
Cold: Lemon peel.
Acidity: Medium-high citrus.
Sweetness: Medium-high floral honey.
Mouthfeel: Tea-like.
Aftertaste: Long, black tea.

QUICK QUESTIONS WITH IEVA 

Q: What does participating in World Brewers Cup and representing Lithuania and KALVE mean to you? 

Ieva: It was an incredible honour to represent both Lithuania and KALVE on the World stage, and to share a small part of myself through my coffee and the story behind it. But what championships mean to me goes far beyond the competition itself. They are the greatest opportunity for growth. Preparing for one challenges every assumption, pushes you to explore every detail, and teaches you more than months of everyday work ever could. I truly believe that no matter the final result, everyone who goes through that process becomes a better barista.

Q: What was the hardest part of preparation and during the competition? 

Ieva: The hardest part was balancing all the small details. Every element - from the coffee blend and recipe to the presentation and timing - had to work together perfectly. During the competition, the biggest challenge was staying present and calm, enjoying the moment after months of preparation.

Q: How different is brewing for judges compared to brewing for a guest in a coffee shop?

Ieva: The goal is actually the same: to prepare the best possible cup for the person in front of you. In competition, every detail is refined and intentional because you’re evaluated on precision. In a coffee shop, the focus is creating a great experience that fits each guest, but the care and attention behind the brew remain exactly the same.

Q: If you could share one thing with a guest drinking this coffee for the first time, what would it be?

Ieva: Take your time with it. This coffee changes as it cools, revealing new flavours with every sip. I hope it encourages you to slow down for a moment and discover how different elements can come together in harmony - just like the inspiration behind this cup.

Ieva's World Brewers Cup 2026 Presentation

Click here to read the whole Ieva’s presentation

Experience the coffee yourself

The very same coffee featured in Ieva's World Brewers Cup routine is now available at KALVE.
You can enjoy it as a hand brew in our Baltic coffee shops, prepared using Ieva's competition recipe, or take it home in one of just 130 numbered limited-edition tins, each including the recipe, tasting notes and the story behind this exceptional release.

Whether in our cafés or at home, we hope this coffee invites you to slow down, taste carefully and discover the harmony that inspired its creation.

Click here to get your very special tin!

About Hacienda La Esmeralda

Originally established as a cattle ranch in 1967, Hacienda La Esmeralda became one of the most influential coffee farms in the world after the Peterson family discovered the exceptional potential of the Geisha variety. Today, its farms—Jaramillo, Cañas Verdes and El Velo—continue to produce some of the world's most sought-after coffees through meticulous cultivation, innovative processing and an uncompromising commitment to quality.