The road to Brussels with Mariam Erin Pinza

What inspired your winning routine at the UAE Championship?
The inspiration came from my café concept, imagining how I want my guests to feel when they visit. I wanted it to be warm, inviting, and real. Not everyone drinks coffee, and not everyone drinks alcohol, so I thought, why not create something that bridges both worlds?

That’s how my zero-proof, decaffeinated coffee cocktail was born. It celebrates flavor, creativity, and inclusivity, showing that specialty coffee can connect with everyone in every way.

Another drink that inspired me comes from the comfort food my grandma used to serve during rainy days or the cold season: a chocolate porridge called champorado. It’s a staple in every Filipino home. I gave it a twist by turning it into a warm cocktail with rum, vodka, and whiskey, and it worked.

What does it mean to you personally to represent the UAE in Brussels?
It will be a full-circle moment for me. I’ve been competing in coffee championships for years, and it never really gets easier, but I learn something new every year, not only about myself, but also about the industry.

When I joined Coffee in Good Spirits, it felt like rediscovering a part of myself. Before becoming a barista, I had a short journey in bartending, and this competition brought those two worlds together again. It’s a whole new, exciting world stage for me.

Looking back at my performance in Greece, I realized we can help more people appreciate specialty coffee by presenting it in approachable ways. Like turning it into a drink or cocktail. I still believe that deeply.

That approach worked for my mom, so maybe it will work somewhere else too. I’d like specialty coffee to be for everyone.

What would you like fans and the coffee community to know about your journey?
I want people to know that this journey has never been just about trophies or titles, though of course, winning pushes us to do better. It’s about growth, meeting like-minded people, making new coffee friends, sharing a part of yourself with the community, creating, experimenting, and being able to share that with the people who keep us going. The preparation, the experimenting, the ups and downs, all of it is part of the journey.

And most importantly, it’s never a one-person show. The team supporting me, the friendships, the newfound friends, and the bonds we’ve built are what keep me going. Being surrounded by the right people is already a winning part of the journey.

I’m lucky to have the Brewing Gadgets team, who supported me in every way. Preparing for competitions is the hardest part, but also the most exciting. At some point, it can burn you out, but what keeps me on my feet are the people around me who inspire me and remind me why we’re doing this in the first place.

I always ask myself: Do I have anything else to share on stage? Innovation? A message for the community? What can I give back to the farmers if I win? It’s all about the whole chain. Yes, people may get to know you, but that’s just a bonus.

Every competition, every cup, every failure, and every win has shaped who I am today and the people who have been part of my journey.

So, to anyone dreaming of competing or sharing their love for coffee, just start. You will never really lose. You will always gain something personal, something that pushes you forward or helps you discover which part of the industry you truly want to be in. The coffee world is huge, yet small at the same time. It is big enough to choose the part of the chain where you see yourself growing, yet small enough that what you do now can still make an impact. Competition is one example of that.

When you’re on stage, don’t think of it as performing for judges. Think of it as sharing your story and your drinks with friends. Yes, there are technicalities, so it’s important to know the rules inside and out. But at the end of the day, it’s like being behind your own bar: connecting, serving, and creating joy just as you’d want to be served in a café.

As a competitor, stay curious, stay playful, and be kind not only to others, but to yourself. Prepare physically, intellectually, and emotionally, and most importantly, keep having fun.