When I first made the decision that specialty coffee was going to be my career path, I figured I would end up opening a cafe. At that time, it was the only coffee career path that I could think of. My exposure to the coffee supply chain was limited to the realm of the cafe storefront. It wasn't until I was introduced to coffee companies that had their own roasteries, that I realized there was a whole ecosystem outside of the cafe setting. As I developed my career in specialty coffee, the competition setting seemed like the perfect place to learn from experts in the field and develop my knowledge further.

This routine is a celebration of the coffee community and industry at its purest. It represent my journey in the industry, and more specifically in the competition scene. It represents my hope to leave coffee competitions in a better place than when I first entered.

This year, I've really been coming to grips with the reality of this being my final year in coffee competitions. I'm really excited to see more truth and lived experiences being presented on the competition stage. When I present my routine, I try and present beyond the room of coffee professionals. I present to the people I grew up with, to the grandmothers that still enjoy their cup of taster's choice, to the people that see specialty coffee in a much different light. I'm also excited to watch other competitors that are pushing the boundary in competition from what it once was to now.