Jacqueline Kezia Millennina | Indonesian Comandante Champion

What is your job and where do you live and work?

I am a Barista at Kopi Oemah P'adi. I live in BSD, Tangerang and that's also where Kopi Oemah P'adi is.

What does coffee mean to you and what do you love about it?

In the beginning, I felt coffee is just a caffeine boost, but as time goes by and Kopi Oemah P'adi teachings, I began to learn deeply about coffee. From the plantation, processing, roasting, until brewing. I feel like coffee is a representation of hard work from a lot of parties farmer, processor, roaster, and me as the barista, that's also the reason why I started falling in love with coffee.

What is your experience with Comandante grinders and what do you like about them?

Comandante Grinders is like a privilege in our cafe, where only the chosen one is allowed to use Comandante, in other words, you have to earn your way to be able to use the Comandante. I as the barista here have to keep on proving that I am worthy. As for Comandante, it made a huge impact on my brewing skills since I can experiment with various grind sizes. I like Comandante Grinders mostly because the grounds have an even and quality distribution.

Why did you apply for the Comandante Grind and Brew Cup?

I joined the Championship because I love competing and I enjoy a format that is based only on the taste of the coffee, not on scoring sheets. Other than that I have been using Comandante Grinders for quite a while and I wanted to test myself if I can use the grinder better than others.

How was the competition for you?

It was a rollercoaster ride. Me and my team have been practising a lot already 2 weeks before the competition. I got eliminated in the first round which lowered my confidence deeply. But I was hopeful for the wild card in the final round. The crew used a roulette to decide who would be the wild card winner to join the finals, when they called my name I was taken aback it was a 3.33% chance to be called! They gave us a 10-minute break to prepare ourselves, and then the time for the final round came. I tried to brew calmly but accidents happened here and there, I finished last among the three finalists with the exact amount of coffee required with nothing left for me to taste my coffee. Finally, it was time for the announcement. When they didn't call my name for the 3rd place, I was surprised because I was prepared to be the last in the finals. I just let everything happen according to the greater being's plan. I expected to be the 2nd place. When they called my name "Congratulations to Jacqueline Kezia for being the first-ever Indonesian Comandante Champion" It was truly an unbelievable moment for me. I couldn't be even happier than that moment.

What are your future goals?

I'm planning to continue my journey in the coffee industry, probably joining other championships to keep on testing myself.

What is your advice for future competitors?

Practice as much as you can. When the day comes let go of everything do not think too much. Just believe in yourself.