“It is a small town where they are very well known for producing a high-quality coffee. I looked at issues they were having like management, distribution, logistics and others, so I thought maybe we could incorporate different business models into a digital platform,” Llano-Rios said. “Our ultimate idea is to see if we can export the coffee they produce to the States.”

The coffee app currently is available only in Colombia and in the Spanish language, but ultimately will help potential buyers from the United States buy coffee from growers in the region. The app will feature the different coffees and different aromas, flavors and growing profiles.

“You can take a quiz and it gives you suggestions on coffees based on how much acidity you like, what aromas and flavors because many Colombian coffees are based on different fruits,” Llano-Rios said. “The app and website not only give you a description of the different coffee profiles, but also information about the farm, how the beans are grown and cultivated.”

In addition to selling coffee through the app, Llano-Rios hopes to develop new features to promote eco-tours and coffee tasting events, which currently are handled by word of mouth and by phone.

For Llano-Rios, who completed a bachelor’s degree in computer science in his hometown of Medellin, his path to Speed School and the United States began through a part-time job in Colombia.

“My boss recommended me to a professor he knew at Speed School, Dr. Antonio Badia, associate professor in computer science and engineering, who was looking for a student to work in his research lab,” said Llano-Rios. “Once Dr. Badia and I connected, we found we had many common interests, so I moved to the United States and came to Speed School.”

After Llano-Rios completed his master’s degree, one of those common interests – databases – became the focus of his current PhD research, which he began in 2020.��

While Llano-Rios continues his work with his team on the coffee growers’ app, his post-PhD plans are to go into industry. He hopes to return to Colombia one day but right now, there is so much more he wants to learn and explore in the U.S.

But back to the app, why coffee?

“I just love the taste,” he said.

Check out more from the J.B. Speed School of Engineering.��

While COVID-19 shut down travel, it could not shut down UofL working with the Universidad El Bosque of Bogota, Colombia.

Under the direction of UofL Associate Professor of Music Chris Fitzgerald and Javier Perez of the Universidad El Bosque, students at both universities collaborated remotely to produce jazz performances.

The result? Four YouTube performances – two from UofL and two from Universidad El Bosque – that show viewers the skill and expertise of the students from both schools.

The following performances are available online now and linked below:��

• UofL: ��
• El Bosque:
• UofL: “
• El Bosque:��

The schools have collaborated in person before – both program directors are alumni of the UofL School of Music – but the pandemic required innovative thinking to enable students to work together this year.

“Each student recorded their part in the performances separately,” Fitzgerald said. “Once I received my group of performances, I was able to use computer software to combine them. Javier did the same.”

And while Fitzgerald and Perez are looking forward to resuming their in-person collaboration, the remote experience has provided new learning opportunities for both faculty and students.

“It’s been great to learn how to put together separate remote performances into one cohesive presentation,” Fitzgerald said. “It’s something we now can impart to our students going forward to further their education.”