30 years old and the first woman to win the Espresso Italiano Champion, here is the story of the talented Giulia Ruscelli.
A historic triumph for the Italian coffee world: Giulia Ruscelli, a 30-year-old professional behind the counter at Bar Lovo in Piazza Saffi in Forlì, has won the title of Best Barista in Italy. Her victory at the Espresso Italiano Champion 2025 marks a highlight, making her the first woman to win this ambitious award in the history of the competition. The event, organized by the Istituto Espresso Italiano (IEI), saw Giulia emerge triumphant over eleven contenders at the culmination of a challenge held on June 24 and 25 at the Darsut Cafè in Conegliano Veneto (Treviso).
A journey hidden behind the counter
Giulia, who has been in the industry for 14 years, discovered her passion for coffee almost by chance. After attending a professional beauty and hairdressing school, at the age of 19 she accepted a summer job as a barista and waitress in Milano Marittima. “I wanted to become independent, and this allowed me to gain experience right away,” she told Resto del Carlino. “From the very first moment, I knew that this was going to be my job, because being behind the counter gave me great satisfaction.”
In 2017, she joined the staff at Bar Lovo and, even with the change in management in 2019, she remained a fixture. Christian Palazzi, owner of Bar Lovo, describes her as “a pillar” and celebrated her victory as one would with “one of the family.”
The competition: emotion, technique, and the unexpected
The Espresso Italiano Champion is a competition that requires not only technical skills but also communication skills. Giulia faced a “marketing and communication” test, introducing herself and illustrating the tools she uses. The technical part, on the other hand, consisted of preparing four espressos and four cappuccinos in just eleven minutes, precisely calibrating Rancilio Classe 20 ASB machines and Eureka Atom 20W grinders with a Brita water system.
Given her anxiety and feeling that she had made mistakes, Giulia did not expect to win. “There were some incredibly talented young people there, the competition was really tough,” she admitted in an interview with Resto del Carlino. “It was a really powerful emotion because it was so unexpected.” Her main goal was training and personal and professional growth, as well as meeting other experts and enthusiasts in the field.
The crucial role of family
Giulia's victory is even sweeter considering the difficulties she faced before the competition. A few days before the competition, her grandmother was hospitalized. Giulia had almost decided to give up to stay with her family at such a difficult time. However, her mother insisted that she not miss this opportunity. “She was the one who pushed me the most to participate,” reveals Giulia, who sent her the first message after receiving the title. Her colleagues at Bar Lovo also played a key role, supporting her as her “first fans” and “first to promote her to customers.”
Future plans: teaching and new challenges
Despite her love for Bar Lovo and her job, Giulia is looking to the future with new goals. She would like to explore other opportunities, no longer as an employee, and continue teaching training courses for young people, something she has already done in the past. Alessandro Borea, president of the Italian Espresso Institute, expressed great satisfaction with Giulia's victory, emphasizing the importance of young professionals in the sector and the increasingly fundamental role of women. Giulia Ruscelli's story is an inspiring example of dedication, talent, and resilience, demonstrating how passion can transform challenges into unexpected triumphs.
