Wendelien van Bunnik
Cultivating positivity in coffee
Coffee educator, community builder, and your enthusiastic guide to everything specialty coffee. Whether I’m on stage as an MC, training baristas, or creating content that makes coffee accessible to everyone – my mission is simple:
Spreading joy, knowledge, and connection through our shared love of coffee.
“Her honesty is what makes her so relatable.”
Barista Magazine – April/May 2025
Cultivating positivity in coffee since 2010…
Hi There!????
You might know me as the 2019 World AeroPress Champion or the Dutch Barista Champion, but those titles only tell part of my story.
After 15+ years in the coffee industry, I’ve learned that coffee is so much more than technique or competition wins – it’s about the connections we make, the communities we build, and the joy we share over a perfectly brewed cup.
My journey started unexpectedly during my English studies in The Netherlands, where a part-time café job sparked a passion that would reshape my entire career. From barista to head of education at a Dutch specialty roastery, to founding my own consultancy and The Happy Coffee Network – every step has been driven by one core belief: everyone deserves to feel welcome in the coffee community.
I’ve experienced the highs of championship victories and the lows of industry burnout (twice, actually – I’m a bit stubborn that way!). These experiences taught me that success isn’t just about technical skills; it’s about creating spaces where people feel supported, inspired, and free to grow.
…and won trophys with it
Competing turned into self improvement
As a competitive person, the coffee competitions have been my way to push my boundaries of what I can do as well as being on stage sharing my message. The platform competitions give me are my way to sharing knowledge, experience and joy.
Dutch Aeropress Champion 2019
My first barista competition was in 2011, and since then I´ve secured:
2016 Runner up & Louis Claus Trophy
2019 Dutch Barista Champion
2019 Dutch Aeropress Champion
2019 21st place at the World Barista Championship in Boston
2022 3rd Place Dutch Barista Championship
World Aeropress Champion 2019
Armed with a bag of coffee and my trusty AeroPress, I went head to head with the other National Aeropress Champion for the title of World AeroPress Champion in London in 2019.
2023 Sprudgie 'Outstanding Achievement'
This award is presented each year to a remarkable coffee person, organization, cause, or entity that embodies coffee excellence.
Together with some very impressive industry leaders, I was awarded a Sprudgie Award in 2023 for my work in coffee, in particular for founding The Happy Coffee Network.
How I make impact
Every cup, every conversation, every connection counts. This is what 15+ years of coffee obsession looks like:
years of experience in Specialty Coffee
trained baristas
community members connected
talks at coffee events
“There is no greater power for change than a community discovering what it cares about”
Margaret J. Wheatley
My Services
What gets me out of bed (besides coffee)
I bring enthusiasm, expertise, and genuine connection to everything I do. Each service I offer is meant to inspire, educate, and bring people together around our shared love of coffee. Let’s explore how we can work together!
NIET VERWIJDEREN
Public Speaking & Event MC ????
From intimate coffee workshops to international championships, I bring energy, expertise, and authentic connection to every stage. My background in education and competition gives me the unique ability to translate complex coffee concepts into engaging, accessible presentations that inspire and educate.
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The Happy Coffee Network - Community Building ☕
As founder of The Happy Coffee Network, I’ve created what I wished existed when I was finding my place in the industry – a supportive, inclusive community where coffee professionals and enthusiasts can learn, grow, and connect without judgment.
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Co-Author: "De Nieuwe Barista" ????
Together with my co-author Rose van Asten, I’ve created the definitive Dutch guide for modern baristas – combining traditional techniques with contemporary approaches to help baristas excel in today’s specialty coffee landscape.
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Content Creation & Social Media Marketing ????
With years of sharing authentic, educational content through @wendeliendrinkscoffee, I help coffee brands connect with their audience through genuine storytelling, practical education, and engaging visual content.
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Public Speaking & Event MC ????
Let me help you turn your coffee event into an unforgettable experience.
Whether you’re hosting an intimate cupping session or a major industry conference, I bring the perfect blend of expertise, energy, and authenticity to keep your audience engaged and inspired.
What I bring to your event:
My Keynote speech ‘I shouldn’t be here’ – a deepdive into impostor syndrome in the coffee industry
Championship- level expertise delivered in an accessible, non-intimidating way
Natural stage presence honed through years of competition and teaching
Multilingual capabilities (Dutch, English) for international audiences
Do I match with your event?
Perfect for:
- Coffee industry conferences and trade shows
- Educational workshops and masterclasses
- Competition judging and championship events
- Corporate coffee training sessions
- Product launches and brand events
What you’ll get:
A speaker who doesn’t just share knowledge, but creates connections – between your audience and the content, between attendees, and between your brand and the coffee community. And who’s not afraid to crack a joke!
Watch me work
“Presenting with Wendelien is laughing, switching gears, and reading each other blindly –
it’s just like coffee with milk: each fine on their own, but simply better together.”
Bart Deprez – MC World Coffee Championships
The Happy Coffee Network ☕
The Friendliest International Coffee Community
In 2023, I founded a supportive, inclusive community where coffee professionals and enthusiasts can learn, grow, and connect without judgment. The Network- or HCN – is driven by the kindness and passion of its members.
What you find in the Happy Coffee Network:
250+ members from over 20+ different nationalities
Live, online Masterclasses taught by industry experts
A safe space to ask questions and share experiences in our forum
Social events like our Coffee Pubquiz (on-ánd offline) and our annual Global Coffee Exchange
Networking opportunities and genuine connections
What Happy Coffee Network members say about our Masterclasses
“Coffee is the best thing in life because it brings people together”
"De Nieuwe Barista"
I’ve dreamt of publishing a book since I was 7, but I never dreamt it would be a coffee book. Yet here we are!
De Nieuwe Barista (‘The New Barista), released in October 2025, aims to help as many new ánd advanced baristas – wether they’re a coffee professional or a home barista- to make (much) better coffee.
Together with my co-author and friend Rose van Asten, who’s been in coffee even longer than I have, we combined our knowledge, experience and passion for teaching and turned it into a beautiful, readable and practical handbook for the modern barista.
Our book contains coffee history and background, the basics of espresso making and extraction, filter coffee methods, steaming milk, pouring latte art and learning how to cup and taste coffee. Oh, and some of our favourite coffee recipes that évery barista should know.
De Nieuwe Barista is in Dutch, but an English translation will be published in 2026.
Content Creation & Social Media marketing
Because I love brand building online
During COVID, I discovered the true magic of building online relations and the power of social media.
With my own Instagram account @wendeliendrinkscoffee (+11,1k followers) I use humour and authentic relatable content to connect with the coffee industry.
This is what I can do for you:
Paid collaborations and affiliate marketing
Social media strategy consultancy & community building
Content Ideation & creation for your brand
Brands I’ve worked with:
Interested in working with me?