Claudio Castagnoli On His Two Passions: Pro Wrestling And Coffee

“No two cups of coffee are ever the same. That’s the beauty of wrestling, too.”

Claudio Castagnoli is a world-class wrestler. Whether it is AEW, WWE, or New Japan Pro-Wrestling, there are very few professionals that exhibit the same type of precision or authenticity to their work.

Outside the ring, Castagnoli is fervent about an altogether different import. He is a coffee connoisseur, sampling different cups all across the globe.

“I don’t have one specific favorite,” said Castagnoli, who grew up in Lucerne, Switzerland. “There are so many coffee shops opening up in the world, these mom-and-pop shops. It’s beautiful. Their passion, like mine, is coffee.”

When Castagnoli moved from Switzerland to Pennsylvania in September of 2004, he carried only a briefcase, a backpack, and a dream. As he spent the next seven years accomplishing his dream of signing with WWE, he was powered by an endless amount of coffee.

“I started drinking coffee when I was 27,” said Castagnoli. “Coffee brings people together. That’s why I love going to coffee shops. And I look forward to a cup of coffee before my matches. It kind of calms me down, puts everything in position, and puts me in the moment.”

Courtesy AEW

As the interview was being conducted, I was drinking a cup of coffee brewed from a bakery at a Market Basket supermarket. As soon as I mentioned that, Castagnoli switched roles with me and became the interviewer.

“Was it made fresh?” he asked, to which I answered in the affirmative–and received a proud nod of approval from Castagnoli. “Coffee brewing is art, the same as wrestling. The more care that goes into it, the better it is.”

Nine years ago, when I was writing for the Boston Herald, I made every attempt possible to bring pro wrestling into the newspaper’s sports page. One of my interviews was with a young Roman Reigns, who spoke about WrestleMania 30 and his goal of becoming champion–as well as the potential of wrestling The Undertaker at a WrestleMania, which came to fruition three years later. During the interview, Reigns mentioned traveling with The Shield’s Seth Rollins and Dean Ambrose, who now stars as Jon Moxley in AEW.

“He can disappear in a moment’s notice,” Reigns said about Moxley. “But I’ve kind of timed out the things he may be doing. If you lose him, he’ll always come back with a granola bar and a coffee.”

Courtesy AEW

Castagnoli added that he is not the only coffee drinker in the Blackpool Combat Club, confirming that Moxley and Bryan Danielson also share an interest in the global phenomenon.

“Mox drinks coffee,” said Castagnoli. “He is a straight filter coffee and espresso guy. Bryan is a cold brew guy. That’s the only kind of coffee he’ll drink. We all have our own preferences, but we’re all coffee guys, with the exception of Yuta.”

Wheeler Yuta, the youngest member of the BCC, is not a coffee drinker. But his time, Castagnoli excitedly shared, is coming.

“When you turn 27, that’s the magic age,” said Castagnoli. “That’s when you start drinking coffee. So right now, Yuta is too young.”

Courtesy AEW

Currently 26 years old, Yuta turns 27 next week on October 26.

“Yuta is almost there,” said Castagnoli. “Once he is ready, we’ll be happy to teach him.”

Castagnoli sees similarities between coffee and pro wrestling, his two driving passions.

“No two cups of coffee are ever the same,” said Castagnoli. “That’s the beauty of wrestling, too. Every match in the ring is very unique and special.”