Lanz Castillo’s journey as a barista began in 2017 with a modest coffee cart. Armed with self-taught skills from books and online tutorials, he quickly turned his passion into expertise, refining his craft through the daily challenges of running his cart and his first coffee shop.
Over the years, this foundation evolved into a remarkable career, but there was always something more to fill his cup.
“I started competing to further challenge my skills and learn from more experienced professionals. Thankfully all those experiences helped me in winning the national competition,” Castillo told The Sunday Times Magazine in an online interview.
That competition was the national leg of the DaVinci Gourmet Barista Craft Competition.
“It was definitely an honor to represent our country. Obviously there’s a bit of pressure but I tried to disregard that since competing is actually a lot of mental battle,” Castillo said.
Organized by global beverage solutions brand DaVinci Gourmet, the competition focused on the sensory experience of coffee. Unlike conventional contests that focus on classic brews, this first-of-its-kind championship provides a unique platform for the global coffee community to showcase artistry, talent, and craftsmanship while building connections.
The three-stage competition spans Asia Pacific, the Middle East, Africa and Latin America. Under the theme ‘United Through Coffee,’ the winning baristas from participating countries competed at the global finals at Singapore in October.
Castillo won the national leg in the Philippines, earning him a spot at the global event.
For the competition, Castillo crafted two standout entries. The first was a hot drink called ‘Mango Sticky Rice,’ a delightful blend of espresso, mango puree, and clarified coconut with guava. It was a tropical, fruity, and creamy beverage that was both light and airy.
His second entry, ‘Strawberry Cheesecake,’ featured espresso, strawberry fruit mix, tonic water, and a cheesecake cream topping, resulting in a fizzy dessert beverage.
“I just saw the movie ‘Deadpool and Wolverine,’ at the time of my preparation and I found their dynamic absolutely hilarious, so I decided to use it as my inspiration. The theme of contrasting personalities, represented by red and yellow, became my creative canvas, and I developed the flavors around that concept,” Castillo elaborated.
While others might assume that conceptualizing his drinks and preparing them for the big day would be the most challenging part, Castillo shared a different perspective.
“The waiting is the hardest part. Anxiety gets worse the longer you’re waiting for your turn. But more than this, what’s very challenging is really the mental prep of thinking of what could go wrong and not knowing if you practiced enough.
“One thing I really hate about competitions is the time limit on calibrating coffee. It’s such a pressure to dial in your coffee within a short span of time especially if you’re not used to a certain machine brand.”
On the flip side, meeting baristas from around the world was one of the most rewarding aspects of the competition for Castillo.
“Meeting other competitors form different countries and cultures totally opened my mind to the level of skills other people have. It inspired me to do better.”
Despite the competitive environment, Castillo shared he found a spirit of camaraderie among participants, who were open to sharing their methodologies and experiences.
He also observed a few takeaways from the competition.
“First, keep it simple but innovative. Second, master the rules and work around them. Finally, bring the right tools and equipment.”
Although he didn’t notice specific trends, Castillo sees milk washing — a technique used to refine the taste and appearance of cocktails by adding acidic component to milk — to likely to gain popularity in the intersection of coffee and mixology.
Although Castillo did not bring home the coveted top prize, the competition has left a lasting impact on his approach as a barista trainer, coffee consultant, and coffee shop owner.
“Training and discipline are crucial. Learning from past experiences and mastering the rules are key to success.”
