A few months ago on a cool night in Panama, I received an email from @baristamagazine asking me if I’d like to be interviewed for the June / July issue of the magazine. I felt super emotional (and actually shed some tears lol) instantly as I’ve always visualised and dreamt about being on the cover many times. I think for many barista competitors, we know that the most straightforward way to get there is to win the championship. Most, dream to be there not to show off, but because being on it means that your work is approved/acknowledge by the industry peers. After Milan, I thought I had to shelve that dream for a while since I didn’t get a high placing and not planning to compete this year. Little did I know, our work & I were about to be featured in a different light. @sunghee.t wrote an amazing story on not just my journey in coffee, but the Indonesian coffee’s journey throughout the years. How we, because of our doubts, struggled for a long time in having the confidence to be proud of our work, produce and identity. Upon reflection, I’m glad we made it on the cover not by winning the trophy, but by staying true to our mission. By taking risks and sticking true to, as @hide_izaki calls it, our WHY. “If you can dream—and not make dreams your master; If you can think—and not make thoughts your aim; ... If you can make one heap of all your winnings, And risk it on one turn of pitch-and-toss, And lose, and start again at your beginnings, And never breathe a word about your loss ... Yours is the Earth and everything that’s in it, And—which is more—you’ll be a Man, my son!” - If, Rudyard Kipling Story on link in bio.