Catching Up With the Champions of The Barista League Montreal

Calm teamwork, creative flair, and a dash of Julio Jaramillo—Jair Garduño Vázquez and Sebastián Peñafiel share how they brewed their way to victory at The Barista League’s Montreal event.

BY VASILEIA FANARIOTI
SENIOR ONLINE CORRESPONDENT

Photos courtesy of The Barista League

The Barista League‘s North American event lit up Montreal, Canada, with its signature mix of chaos, creativity, and caffeine, bringing together some of the region’s most passionate coffee pros for an unforgettable night at Café SAT. 

Among the whirlwind of mystery ingredients, wild challenges, and nonstop beats, one duo stood out for their calm teamwork and effortless chemistry: Jair Garduño Vázquez and Sebastián Peñafiel, who took home the win with style, warmth, and just the right amount of Julio Jaramillo on the playlist. 

We caught up with them to hear their thoughts on the win, the competition, and what’s next for them.

Vasileia Fanarioti: Congrats on your win! How did you prepare for The Barista League competition in Montreal? Did you have a strategy going in? 

Jair: We didn’t have any specific preparation because The Barista League really pushes you to adapt on the spot. That’s part of what makes it so exciting. Our main focus was on the experience we wanted to give our “customers”—the judges. We wanted to make them part of a sensory journey through our drinks. 

Sebastián: Preparation for The Barista League is tricky. It’s not like other competitions where you rehearse a routine. The format feels close to what we do every day behind the bar. For me, the key was reading the rules carefully, understanding the flow, and focusing on bringing the best service and customer approach possible. That’s what matters most. 

The Barista League has a pretty unique format. What was your favorite round or challenge, and why? 

Jair: The cold brew mocktail round, hands down! It’s not something we do every day in our jobs, so it really tests your creativity. I loved that we could bring our own ingredients and use our own cup. It helped us build the story we wanted to tell through our drink. That freedom was key to our win. 

Sebastián: Same here—the mocktail round was my favorite. It gives you this chance to explore and create something completely new, to push flavor boundaries, and to make coffee shine in a different context. It’s all about getting out of the box and having fun with it. 

How did you aim to stand out from the other teams, whether in approach, style, or energy? 

Jair: We focused on being authentic. We didn’t try to invent a theme or routine that didn’t represent us—we just wanted to be ourselves on stage. That honesty helped us feel comfortable and stress-free, which I think really showed in our performance. 

Sebastián: Exactly. For me, it’s all about staying true to myself—no acting, no gimmicks. If I try to pretend, that’s when I get stressed. So we just did what we do every day during a Saturday rush at the café: move fast, stay in sync, and keep it real. 

What do you think makes The Barista League different from other competitions, and what did you love most about it? 

Jair: I love this question! The Barista League is like a competition—but also not (laughs). It doesn’t have the same formality or pressure as other coffee championships, yet everyone still brings their knowledge, strategy, and experience to the stage. That balance creates a sense of community that’s so rare. What I love most is how accessible and fair it is. Everyone competes with the same coffee and equipment, so it’s really about skill and creativity—not who has the fanciest gear or rarest beans. 

Sebastián: Totally. Coming from SCA competitions, I realized how expensive and high-stakes those can be. The Barista League levels the playing field. Everyone’s in the same zone with the same tools, and that creates such a positive, open energy. The community aspect is always front and center. 

How did the team dynamic work between the two of you? Any funny or memorable moments from backstage? 

Jair: Working with Sebastián is amazing. We think alike, we share similar palates, and we can almost read each other’s minds. That’s our biggest strength. During practice that morning, we came up with most of our recipes without saying much at all. That’s when I knew we were in sync. 

Sebastián: It’s always fun working with Jair. We share close cultural backgrounds, so the inside jokes and pop culture references come naturally. Because we work together at Café Éclair, our communication is effortless. We’re already on the same rhythm. 

Let’s rewind a bit: What got each of you started in coffee, and what’s kept you hooked? 

Jair: Thirteen years ago, a cup of filter coffee brewed on a Chemex completely changed my life. It opened the door to the world of coffee and made me realize how connected it is—how our actions as baristas can impact producers across the globe. What keeps me hooked is how dynamic coffee is; it’s always changing, always challenging, and always giving me new ways to share with others. 

Sebastián: For me, it started as a part-time job while I was in dance school about ten years ago. Then I went back to Ecuador and tried a coffee from Finca Lugmapata, and that cup changed everything. That’s when I knew I wanted to dedicate myself to this world. 

Who or what inspires you most in the coffee industry right now? 

Jair: Right now, I’m most inspired by the people I work with. They’re younger than me but incredibly professional and motivated. It gives me so much hope for the future of coffee because it shows how seriously this new generation takes the craft. 

Sebastián: I’m inspired by how much the industry is evolving. It’s a reminder that life itself keeps changing—and that’s a good thing. We just have to adapt, enjoy the process, and keep learning. 

Montreal had such an energetic crowd! How did the vibe of the event impact your experience on stage? 

Jair: It was amazing—the crowd’s energy made me feel so comfortable on stage. Their cheering gave me confidence, and after we finished, we shared our cold brew mocktail with as many people as we could as a way to say thank you. 

Sebastián: Honestly, I was just vibing with the music we chose: Julio Jaramillo! It really helped set the mood and keep me grounded during the performance. 

Now that you’ve taken home the win, what’s next for you? Any big goals, projects, or coffee dreams on the horizon? 

Jair: I usually compete every year in the National Barista and Brewers Cup Championships, so I’m hoping to do that again, and one day represent Canada on the world stage. I also want to reconnect with producers in Mexico, travel more, and bring those stories back to share with my customers. 

Sebastián: A second win would be amazing! Depending on where The Barista League goes next year, I’d love to compete again. I’m also focusing on Brewer’s Cup, the Canadian Barista Championship, and my project with Juan Proaño—Athanor Coffee—to showcase Ecuadorian coffees. That’s a big dream for me. 

Finally, if you had to describe your Barista League experience in three words, what would they be? 

Jair: Fun, competitive, inspirational.
Sebastián: Surprising, creative, fun.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Vasileia Fanarioti (she/her) is a senior online correspondent for Barista Magazine and a freelance copywriter and editor with a primary focus on the coffee niche. She has also been a volunteer copywriter for the I’M NOT A BARISTA NPO, providing content to help educate people about baristas and their work.

Subscribe and More!

As always, you can read Barista Magazine in paper by subscribing or ordering an issue.

Read the October + November 2025 Issue for free with our digital edition. 

For free access to more than five years’ worth of issues, visit our digital edition archives here.