Renáta Hrecska-Kovacs is a force to be reckoned with in Hungary’s burgeoning specialty coffee scene. A lawyer by education and a barista by passion, she balances precision and creativity across two demanding professions that require focus and dedication. At Waycup Coffee & Deli in Budapest, she serves as a barista, trainer, consultant, and Quality Manager for Awaken Coffee Roasting, while also co-founding Cupping Club Hungary, a vibrant community gathering coffee enthusiasts to taste, learn, and share knowledge.
Her impressive sensory skills have earned her multiple competition podiums, including 1st place in the 2025 Hungarian Cup Tasters Championship, 2nd in the 2023 Barista Championship, and two 3rd-place finishes in the Filter Coffee Championships. Her quiet determination to keep learning and sharing knowledge sets her apart. Whether picking roast profiles, mentoring new baristas, or leading tastings, Renáta approaches each role with the same measured curiosity that defines both her legal work and her journey in coffee.
So, what sparked this unlikely career change? “My first coffee experience is connected to my beloved father, who always drank his coffee black with two sugars,” Renáta recalls. “I loved watching the crema settle into a little snail shape after stirring.” Intrigued by the flavors of different coffees, she found herself drawn further into the world of specialty coffee after her husband gifted her a six-week barista course following her doctoral thesis defense.
Renáta’s passion for coffee extends to multiple roles across two distinct workplaces. At Waycup Coffee & Deli, she selects items for the assortment, recommends recipes, and conducts both internal and external training sessions. As co-leader of Cupping Club Hungary, Renáta organizes monthly free coffee tastings for over 800 members, offering an educational component alongside enjoyable experiences with rare coffee finds. As a quality manager at Awaken Coffee Roasting, she helps select coffees to be offered and makes suggestions for refining profiles, ensuring consistency across their offerings.
” She desires for them to find comfort in their coffee choices and view it as an uplifting force or a soothing warmth, depending on their needs.
Renáta aims to provide customers a unique experience when they visit her café: “I want guests to experience, without pressure and with sincere openness, that there is always something new to discover in the world of coffee.” She desires for them to find comfort in their coffee choices and view it as an uplifting force or a soothing warmth, depending on their needs.
Staying motivated and inspired to continuously improve her coffee-making skills comes naturally for Renáta: “Coffee itself began to teach me: day after day, this plant makes it clear how much there is for us to discover.” She sees every unexplored experiment and untasted coffee as an opportunity to learn something new. Her work in the coffee industry allows her to test out ideas immediately, offering instant feedback that fuels both her motivation and development efforts.
Misconceptions about the industry have arisen over time, but Renáta works to address them through education: “One such misconception is that specialty certification is just a gimmick, serving the purpose of selling already expensive coffee at even higher prices.” By educating people on different quality levels of coffee, she empowers consumers to make informed decisions about what they drink.
Current trends in cafes in her region include co-fermented coffees and espresso tonic, but Renáta prefers encouraging customers to develop stable coffee evaluation and preparation habits rather than following trends blindly. She encourages consumers to incorporate current trends into their established routines without letting them define their coffee experiences entirely.
If you’re a coffee enthusiast in Budapest or visiting soon, be sure to stop by Waycup Coffee & Deli and experience her dedication firsthand.
With her impressive achievements in championships and passion for sharing knowledge, Renáta continues to inspire and educate others in the specialty coffee world. If you’re a coffee enthusiast in Budapest or visiting soon, be sure to stop by Waycup Coffee & Deli and experience her dedication firsthand. And remember—coffee is about more than just the drink; it’s an adventure waiting to unfold with each sip.
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Questions & Answers
Who is Renáta Hrecska-Kovacs and what is her role in Cupping Club Hungary and Waycup Coffee & Deli, Budapest?
Renáta Hrecska-Kovacs is the founder of Cupping Club Hungary and Waycup Coffee & Deli, both located in Budapest. She is a barista and coffee enthusiast who promotes specialty coffee culture.
What makes Cupping Club Hungary and Waycup Coffee & Deli unique in Budapest’s coffee scene?
Cupping Club Hungary and Waycup Coffee & Deli offer a variety of high-quality, ethically-sourced coffees and provide educational workshops, making them unique contributors to Budapest’s thriving coffee culture.
Information sourced from industry reports and news outlets.
