At Costa Coffee Cyprus we are very proud for Ion’s success at the European BOY Awards 2022-23, but we could not be more proud of his career path with us.

“I started working at Costa Coffee, at Larnaca store, as a delivery driver in February 2021. My career started in October 2021 though, when I started working as a barista at the same store and that’s where my passion for coffee started. In January 2022, I was transferred to Metropolis Mall Store and in April 2022 I passed my barista test. A month later, I started training for the shift leader position and in July 2022 I got promoted to shift leader. In October 2022, I decided to participate in the Cyprus BOY Awards 2022-23, where I managed to secure the 1st place and thus represent Costa Coffee Cyprus at the European BOY Awards 2022-23. January 26th 2023 is a date that I will never forget. Winning 2nd place at the European BOY Awards 2022-23 in Poland made me feel proud for me and for my family” stated Ion.

Ion also stated that he feels very proud and happy to be a member of the Costa Coffee family and what makes Costa Coffee unique are the opportunities people have for development, where hard work and love for coffee is recognized and rewarded.

Ion shared with us his experience at the European BOY Awards 2022-23: “At the beginning it was a little strange for me because I was in a new country with new people, but gradually I got to get to know and hang out with the other contestants and ended up having the best time, which I will remember for a long time”.

Ion explained the drink he made for the competition and where he got the inspiration for it: “The beverage that I prepared for the competition is very simple but very delicious and healthy. It consists of 4 ingredients: coffee, coconut milk, vanilla powder and turmeric (powder). The aftertaste is spicy because of turmeric but slowly you feel the sweetness and smoothness because of the texture from the coffee, coconut milk and vanilla powder. I wanted to create a beverage that was healthy and with the help of my Store Manager Konstantinos and after lots of trials, ‘Coco Haldinho’ was created”.  

After his recent success at the European BOY Awards, Ion recommended to his barista colleagues at Costa Coffee Cyprus to try this experience: “Every barista needs to try it at least once in his/her career to enter the competition. It’s a great experience to meet different baristas from different countries.  To the next BOY, I say that you are already a winner. Don’t think that you will make mistakes and you don’t have a chance to win. Everything depends on your personality and dedication”.