Hello my name is Maria Paulina, I’ve been working in coffee now for 7 years. When I first started in coffee I was doing a lot of my own research to educate myself and applying a lot of what I reading behind the bar. Along with all of the reading I was doing I also developed a love for learning latte art. I’ve spent the last 5 years practicing milk texture, temperatures, and different techniques to achieve many different designs in my cup. I built up the confidence to started competing in local latte art competitions in 2022. I lost many competitions but with those losses I learned to be better and to just keep going. In 2024 I earned my spot to compete at Coffee Fest Latte Art World Championships in Minneapolis. Till this day I still compete and judge in a lot of local competitions, creating connections with the community. Learning from my fellow competitors and connecting with new competitors in the industry. I look forward to continuing to compete in future competitions and sharing my knowledge with others.