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2012 café. Some baristas have been involved in competition for a long time and they really try to do things right. SA: What was your experience the first time you ever competed? RR: The first time I competed I was lost about what a barista competition was, so I dosed, tamped and—ha!—threw the portafilter under my leg (like a bartender kind of move) and brewed my espresso. I thought I was amazing but the judges did not look happy. After that, Rouki, who had judged me, gave me a long talk on what the competition was about and the intention of it and the idea of being an actual barista before putting on a show. SA: Tell us about your relationship with Rouki. RR: We met at that first competition I competed in. Since that day, she is always offering advice and ideas and to help (anyone), and we got to talking because I was interested in learning more. We became closer over time and I guess we become really close after she sort of saved my life in Rwanda when I needed my emergency surgery there. She had arranged the trip for me as a Coffee Corps volunteer, and I had to have that surgery. She took care of me after that and now we look out for each other. We always have fun and have coffee-geek talks that probably not many people would understand. She always believed in me and supported me and challenged me to do things for the right reasons. I admire her a lot and have learned a lot from her—to work better and find the good reasons for the projects and to share my knowledge. I think we make a great team! SA: Please tell us about the 2010 WBC: you placed higher than anyone from a producing country had ever placed! RR: It was a goal that I wanted to achieve just to be in the finals, because in Atlanta (for the 2009 WBC), I didn't. So being in the top six was going to be making the goal, and being (as high as) fifth place was going to be (meeting) the goal of (being) the (highest placing barista from a producing coun try), and I wanted to break paradigms and show people that nothing is impossible, and (achieving these goals) was something that was going to help everyone in producing countries to believe more! (During the announcement of the rankings of the top six baristas), I was listening to Gwilym (Davies, the 2009 WBC Champ, who was announcing the final results), and I was sure that he was going to call my name first (in sixth place). Then he called Stefanos (Domatiotis, Barista Champion of Greece), so I thought, OK, I'm next. But then (Gwilym) called Søren (Stiller Markussen, Barista Champion of Denmark, in fifth place), and I was like, OK, I'll be next. But then he called Colin (Harmon, Barista Champion of Ireland, in fourth place), and I was like, Crap! I'm in the top three! This is pretty unbelievable. So I was like, OK, I'll be next, because let's face it: it's Scottie (Callaghan, Barista Champion of Australia) and Mike (Phillips, Barista Champion of the USA). And then Gwilym calls Scottie, and it was just so surreal, and I had the hope that I could win but at the same time, I knew Mike was going to win, but I was so happy for him and for me! When they called my name it was so great, and I was so happy I was second—wow! SA: Can you please explain the signature drink you presented in Vienna, and tell us the story behind it? 48 barista magazine