Ronald Felipe Morales Palomino | Colombian Comandante Champion

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

I currently work as an independent coffee instructor. I am also a coffee roaster, coffee taster and barista. I live in the city of Armenia in the department of Quindio in the Colombian coffee belt (eje cafetero colombiano). I work as an instructor in different parts of the country, Coffee allows me to travel and share knowledge wherever it is needed.

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

For me, coffee is my whole life! For more than 11 years, coffee has become my lifestyle because I made the decision to do something that would make me happy and I found that happiness in the world of coffee in my daily activities. What I love most about coffee is its ability to unite people, whether it's a cup of coffee as an excuse to get two people together to talk or a coffee shop where many more people meet to share a moment or do business or a coffee fair where all of us who love this beautiful world of coffee meet to share, drink lots of coffee and be happy about it!

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

Comandante grinders are an icon in the coffee industry worldwide, their precision, consistency and quality of the materials they are built with make them the most sought-after grinder brand ever. Using a Comandante grinder takes everything to the next level, when you think about taking your love for coffee to a professional or competitive level, they will always be the first choice!

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

When I started competing in the coffee world, my life changed. Competitions have helped me improve as a person and as a professional. I always learn a lot when I compete and that allows me to share that knowledge with more people. I had seen the commander competitions in other countries and I always wanted them to be in Colombia, and when I saw the announcement this year, it was very exciting to be able to participate. Participating in competitions as important as this one strengthens the coffee industry in Colombia and generates the development of the barista community in my country so that young people continue to be motivated to make coffee their lifestyle.

How was the competition for you?

For me it was incredibly exciting, a competition very different from any other I have participated in, a very relaxed and cool space but at the same time it was a very demanding competition that pushed all of us competitors to the limit professionally and to apply all of our knowledge in coffee preparation, getting the most out of our Comandante grinders. For me that is great because it helps us all to improve as baristas and coffee professionals.

What are your future goals?

I want to continue sharing the coffee culture, I want to have my coffee shop again, which I had until the pandemic, and take it to another level with a physical space that serves as an academy for more people to learn and fall in love with coffee, as consumers and as professional tasters, roasters and baristas to continue contributing to the development of our industry!

What is your advice for future competitors?

My advice is to keep competing, because by competing you acquire knowledge that contributes a lot to improving our daily activities, which keeps the coffee industry developing. I also recommend everyone enjoy each competition, so that they are spaces where we all enjoy doing what we love!