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Rudel Balatbat

Be the change that you wish to see in the world.

Rudel believes that coffee connects people, no matter who they are, where they are. He previously worked as the head of coffee in a company, competing across different platforms, putting his roasting, brewing and latte art skills to the test.

His experiences through the years of competing in various competitions held a lot of great memories for him. In his early days, he recalled how resources were scarce and inaccessible, needless to say acquiring mentorship and guidance. Understanding how valuable these were, he grabbed hold of opportunities to train baristas and found a great sense of fulfilment and satisfaction as he witnessed their progression. “Given that I’m blessed with such talent, I want to give back to the industry, and I figured it'd be teaching. Being in the industry for a long time has helped me become a better person, a better professional, so I’d like to return the favour.”Back when he was a student at Bettr, he enjoyed learning and built great rapport with his trainers. Bettr felt like home. The motto ‘changing lives through coffee’ was deeply etched in his mind, and he wanted to impart this same belief that took effect on him. “I really love inspiring people in ways that I can, sharing what I love doing and what I’m good at. It’s something that I won’t get tired doing. It’s a part of who I am. ” He will certainly continue being a mentor for many years down the road, fully utilising his coffee knowledge as a valuable tool to educate aspiring baristas.

Interests

Favourite drink: Filter coffee!

Fun fact: Rudel loves to collect hand made cups - depending on mood, he uses different cups to enjoy different coffee. He enjoys photography too, especially taking shots of people.

Qualifications

  • SCA AST - Barista Skill
  • Dapper Coffee Latte Art Tournament 2015 Champion
  • 2nd Mizpah PBKL Malaysia Latte Art Tournament 2016 2nd Place
  • Cafe Vergnano 1882 Singapore Barista Challenge 2016 3rd Place
  • Glasshouse Brewing Tournament 2017 Champion
  • Kurasu Singapore Brewing Tournament 2018 Champion
  • National Brewers Cup 2018 Ranked 8th
  • Singapore Aeropress Championship 2019 3rd Place
  • Australian International Coffee Awards 2019 Bronze
  • Australian International Coffee Awards 2020 Silvers & Bronzes