Julian's Story
For Julián Rivera, the journey into coffee was almost mystical. A series of strange coincidences and sychronicities led him to taste his first truly marvelous cup. From that moment, with his senses truly awakened, the pursuit of new flavors kept him hooked on the industry.
In a sense, coffee chose him.
Way back in 2011, as he evolved professionally, he realized that the great diversity of Mexican coffees wasn't being properly represented by roasters at the time. This realization pushed him to study chemical engineering and simultaneously open a roasting workshop to experiment and showcase the wonders of Mexico's diverse terroirs.
Eye-Witness to a Processing Revolution
Eventually, working with new partners, his reach exploded, leading to the foundation of Pólvora FCE—whose mission is to make highly representative, differentiated coffees accessible to all.
His deep dive into origin was further shaped by his role as a national and international judge for Cup of Excellence. The experience has opened his eyes to the tangible revolution in coffee processing, showing him how it has helped define regional profiles and unlock the true potential of the beans. Today, he's remains highly motivated to seek out the incredibly unique cups he tasted during competitions and to push his roasting techniques far beyond his usual style.
Systematizing the Craft
What excites Julián the most is systematization he sees blooming across Mexico's roasting landscape. Now more than ever, roasters have access to technological tools that were previously out of reach. This shift means that roasting is no longer an uncontrolled, purely "artisanal" guessing game. Instead, it can be approached with a process-oriented perspective, paving the way for a new generation of roasters equipped with an objective vision, intentionality, and unmatched consistency.
This is exactly why he sees the Aillio Bullet as a crucial tool for professionals looking to elevate their craft without relying on costly, massive infrastructure. On one hand, the Bullet taps into an ecosystem that allows roasters to easily share feedback and learn from each other's experiences, making the learning curve not just simple, but genuinely fun. On the other hand, its precise measurements and hands-off preheating offers control over variables that impact consistency. This frees the roaster to develop a highly reliable "sixth sense," leading to highly intentional roast profiles with a lot more "sazón" (flare!)
Sharing the Method
After 15 years of roasting Mexican coffees, he feels it is only right give back to the industry that has given him so much by sharing his knowledge, tips, and techniques. He is particularly excited to share his personal "Method" for analyzing green coffee and designing curves that highlight the flavors hidden inside.