Kevin Porras | Costa Rican Comandante Champion

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

I'm a Software Engineer working remotely for a USA company with a deep passion for coffee that has led me to be part of this great world.

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

A LOT, like really a LOT. Brewing and drinking coffee allows me to take some time for myself and enjoy the process from start to finish. Also, the coffee community is awesome and vibrant in Costa Rica which is really great.

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

I got my hands on a Comandante for the first time as a prize when I won the Costa Rican Aeropress Championship last year; since then, it has travelled to many places (including the World Aeropress Championship of course) and I also use it almost daily when making coffee at home. I love the consistency of the grinding and how uniform it is; I actually tested it alongside a couple of other grinders using Kruve and it really shines on this aspect.

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

I love competitions! I consider them a way to push you to learn more every time and this was an awesome opportunity for this in a relaxed party-like environment so of course I really had to apply to it

How was the competition for you?

It was a bit of a rollercoaster. I made a couple of small mistakes in the first round that I managed to recover to deliver good coffee on time but still got knocked out in that round. When they were announcing the wildcards I was looking at the exhibitors' booths and partially distracted but when I heard my name I immediately went to the stage and started preparing for my second chance; this time it was Aeropress so I had a pretty good chance. I won the wildcard round with a unanimous decision and then for the final, we flipped a coin and it decided that it would be Aeropress again so I was happy; I brewed the same recipe as the previous round and the result was great.

What are your future goals?

Always be learning more and more about coffee: I'm hoping to complete my Coffee Skills Diploma and of course, keep competing as that will help me to become a better coffee professional.

What is your advice for future competitors?

Compete! Challenge yourselves but above everything: enjoy this cool awesome competition!