The El Salvador-based barista trainer who labored with the ultimate two International Barista Champions discusses his strategy to pageant and extra.
BY CHRIS RYAN
BARISTA MAGAZINE ONLINE
Duvet picture courtesy of Federico Bolanos
Within the new factor of Barista Mag, newly topped International Barista Champion Diego Campos graces the duvet, sharing his tale of resilience and perseverance in shooting the 2021 International Barista Championship (WBC) identify in October in Milan, Italy.
One of the most other people integrated in that tale—and who helped Diego reach his contemporary good fortune—is Federico Bolanos. Should you practice the International Barista Championship carefully, you definitely acknowledge that title. Based totally in El Salvador, Federico coached many nationwide barista champions within the nation sooner than attaining good fortune at the world level when he coached Alejandro Mendez. Alejandro labored with Federico at his then-café chain Viva Coffee in El Salvador to score victory on the International Barista Championship in 2011.
Federico persisted training baristas at the nationwide and international phases, and broke via once more in 2019 when he labored with Korea’s Jooyeon Joon, serving to her win the WBC in Boston that yr. He set to work with Diego Campos later in 2019 for the 2020 WBC, however their quest for victory used to be paused when the COVID-19 pandemic ended in the cancelation of the 2020 match. They persisted on their trail despite the fact that, and Diego sooner or later nabbed the identify on the 2021 WBC, with Federico by way of his aspect.
Right here’s our dialog with Federico to be informed extra about Diego’s contemporary run to the championship, how he approaches training, and a lot more.
Chris Ryan: How did you grow to be Diego’s trainer for the WBC this yr? What used to be interesting to you about Diego and the possibility of operating with him?
Federico Bolanos: I met Diego round 2014 whilst I used to be training one in every of his pals in Colombia. However we didn’t start operating in combination till 2019, after he contacted me to train him for the Colombian Nationwide Barista Championship.
After Diego received the 2019 nationwide, we persisted his coaching for the 2020 WBC, however this procedure used to be interrupted on account of the cancelation of the WBC in Melbourne because of the COVID pandemic. Diego contacted me once more in September 2021 and we resumed his coaching straight away as a result of we had just one month to organize previous to the WBC in Milan.
I used to be delighted to collaborate with Diego because the first time he contacted me as a result of I’ve a large number of admire for him. He’s an exemplary espresso skilled, and most significantly an peculiar human being. He’s humble, passionate, good-hearted, thankful, dedicated, unswerving, fair, resilient, disciplined, and hard-working.
Are you able to describe a little bit about your function as trainer with Diego? Did he have already got a complete regimen that you just helped him get probably the most out of, or did you assist him increase it?
Similar to I’ve executed with each different barista I’ve coached up to now, I helped Diego increase each facet of his presentation, together with:
- Deciding which espresso to compete with
- Tasting and describing the espressos
- Opting for the brewing parameters for the most efficient sensory enjoy
- Growing the idea that of his presentation
- Structuring each motion step of the regimen
- Writing his speech
- Contributing to the introduction of the signature drink and milk beverage
- Suggesting enhancements on his workflow
- Participating in deciding on all of the apparatus and equipment used right through his presentation
- Designing the visible fabrics for the judges
- Training him right through the week of pageant
What used to be it like to observe Diego’s good fortune in Italy? Was once it other or particular in several techniques out of your training in previous years?
Each and every International Barista Champion I’ve coached has been a little bit other, however every one has been very particular to me.
Diego’s triumph intended so much to me for a number of causes: (1) It used to be my dream to train the primary espresso farmer to win WBC; (2) After profitable my first WBC in 2011 in Bogotá, I sought after to provide that happiness again to Colombia; (3) That is the primary time a trainer has received the WBC thrice; and (4) It’s going to with a bit of luck encourage baristas from Latin The us and different coffee-producing nations to imagine of their attainable and proceed pursuing their dream of profitable the WBC.
You’ve now coached 3 International Barista Champions to victory. What do you characteristic for your good fortune? Is it about selecting positive other people to paintings with?
I will have to admit I virtually can’t imagine I’ve coached 3 International Barista Champions! Profitable one is very tough, two is just about inconceivable, and 3 is sort of a miracle. Personally, the primary causes in the back of my effects are:
- The educational program/gadget/approach I’ve evolved, which supplies a structured solution to create shows.
- Revel in. I’ve been training for barista competitions for over 10 years.
- Creativity. I’m a right-brain particular person. Creating shows has been a solution to channel and specific my creativity.
I don’t assume it’s about choosing the right other people. I in truth imagine any person can do actually smartly in competitions in the event that they paintings difficult, passionately, and resiliently below the steerage of an skilled trainer and to find the suitable espresso for the scoresheets.
After all, you are a hectic man, working the roastery ALQUIMIA COFFEE in El Salvador. How do you stability your daily paintings tasks with training barista champions? Why is it necessary to you to proceed to do that training paintings?
Most of the people assume I’m devoted to training as it will get extra publicity, however what I focal point maximum of my efforts on is to develop my corporate ALQUIMIA COFFEE. Training is necessary to me as a result of it’s one thing I care to do. It additionally fills my middle with pleasure to assist baristas prevail and notice how this improves their existence and their households. I will be able to proceed training till I prevent playing it, so I don’t see that going down any time quickly!
