James Alexander Hoffmann (born 1979/1980) is an English barista, YouTuber, entrepreneur, coffee consultant, and author. Hoffmann first came to prominence after winning the World Barista Championship in 2007 and has since been credited as a pioneer of Britain's third-wave coffee movement. Hoffmann has published three books, including The World Atlas of Coffee, amassed a significant following on YouTube, started several businesses, including the specialty coffee roaster Square Mile Coffee Roasters, and consulted for several coffee ventures.
Early life
Born in Stafford, Staffordshire, Hoffmann grew up in the Lake District in North West England. He is a graduate of Durham University.
In 2003, Hoffmann released an EP under the stage name "King Seven" which featured "bell chimes, panned-and-swirling acoustic guitars and careful, sometimes glitchy, percussion choices." He also worked as a croupier in a Leeds casino and in the wine industry before entering the coffee industry.
Career
One of Hoffmann's first jobs after joining the coffee industry in the early 2000s was working...