Last weekend, as part of Coffee Fest Madrid, the National Brewers Cup Championship was held, where Valentina, co-founder of Nubra Coffee Roasters, took first place.

We spoke with her to delve deeper into the work, preparation, and learning behind this achievement.

1. What led you to enter the Brewers Cup this year?

I've always followed the world of competitions very closely, and for years I dreamed of being on stage. Brewers Cup is my favorite championship because of the creative freedom it offers and the opportunity to design a complete experience around a cup of coffee. This year I felt it was time to take on that challenge.

2. What was the preparation process like before the competition?

Long and intense. It began in October with preparations for the closed service (the qualifying round). There were entire days of more than six hours testing different filters, recipes, and settings that could make all the difference.

When I made it to the final, the workload increased. Preparing the open service routine took four very intense months: developing the exercise concept, choosing the coffees, researching extraction methods, testing different filter papers, and designing multiple water recipes.

Luckily, I've had an amazing team by my side throughout the entire process, helping me to perfect every detail.

3. What were you trying to convey with your routine on stage?

I based my routine on three pillars that drive me within specialty coffee and that are also part of Nubra: creativity and innovation and community.

Creativity in the possibility of building something new or reinterpreting it.

Innovation in the way we work, with new methods and processes.

And community, because in the end, serving a cup of coffee only makes sense when it creates a connection with the person receiving it.

4. How did you handle the pressure on the day of the competition?

There are always nerves. In fact, up until fifteen minutes before going on stage, I was still finalizing the tasting notes I was going to present. But there comes a point when you can only trust the process. Trust that all the work of the past months, all the hours of testing and adjustments, are there to support you.

5. What do you take away from this experience beyond the result?

The learning curve. When you work with a goal and a time limit, everything intensifies. The amount you learn in just a few months is enormous, both technically and personally.

6. What advice would you give to someone who is thinking about competing?

Go for it. It's a demanding process, requiring many hours and investment, but if you're motivated, it's an incredibly enriching experience. However, you must approach it with commitment and professionalism.