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Episode the 45th
This week, Steve sits down to chat with an old friend in El Salvador— no,
we know what you’re thinking, and it’s not a bucket of Pollo Campero (although we’re sure he
considered it). It’s newly-titled Director of Coffee at Viva Espresso in San
Salvador and superstar World Barista Champion coach, Federico Bolanos!
Episode the 45th initially takes us back to the golden age
of coffee blogs, books, and forums, when Federico—after hating and dismissing
coffee for years—decides to give it another try for a girl (his now wife, Lily Pacas, 2008 Salvadoran
Barista Champion; Café Tuxpal), landing
him in a long-time love affair with learning everything he can about coffee.
From there, Steve and Federico embark on a discussion of WBC, coaching, non-insular teamwork,
and a once-unspoken-but-now-not-so-secret frustration with the current competition
format before finishing with some interesting thoughts on the benefits of
consolidating businesses. Also covered in this episode: the biggest mistake
competitors make in preparing for competition, stalking coffee people, WBC trends
over the years, why Federico wasn’t to
be seen at last year’s WBC, and how bigger is sometimes better.
View all episodes
By Colin Harmon and Stephen Leighton
5
11 ratings
This week, Steve sits down to chat with an old friend in El Salvador— no,
we know what you’re thinking, and it’s not a bucket of Pollo Campero (although we’re sure he
considered it). It’s newly-titled Director of Coffee at Viva Espresso in San
Salvador and superstar World Barista Champion coach, Federico Bolanos!
Episode the 45th initially takes us back to the golden age
of coffee blogs, books, and forums, when Federico—after hating and dismissing
coffee for years—decides to give it another try for a girl (his now wife, Lily Pacas, 2008 Salvadoran
Barista Champion; Café Tuxpal), landing
him in a long-time love affair with learning everything he can about coffee.
From there, Steve and Federico embark on a discussion of WBC, coaching, non-insular teamwork,
and a once-unspoken-but-now-not-so-secret frustration with the current competition
format before finishing with some interesting thoughts on the benefits of
consolidating businesses. Also covered in this episode: the biggest mistake
competitors make in preparing for competition, stalking coffee people, WBC trends
over the years, why Federico wasn’t to
be seen at last year’s WBC, and how bigger is sometimes better.