Barista Magazine

BAM_DEC 2013 -JAN 2014

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G&B; COFFEE FOUNDERS WOW BARISTA NATION AUDIENCE ON A BEAUTIFUL SATURDAY in late September, the awesome folks at Wilbur Curtis opened their SoCal factory to coffee people from across the state for another installment of the popular, informative, and fun event known as Barista Nation. While various machines and stations were set up around the factory for attendees to practice and experiment on, other rooms were transformed into test kitchens or classrooms, and the loading dock became the main hall for the keynote presentation, panel sessions, and mingling. Meanwhile, outside in the L.A. sunshine, attendees cruised by booths and tables for event sponsors and local companies, where products were on display and for sale, lending the outdoor area a farmers-market kind of feeling. The theme for this edition of Barista Nation was inspired by the popular Discovery Channel series MythBusters. Event organizer Anastasia Chovan wanted attendees and presenters to develop alternative perspectives on topics dear to the coffee community. Light versus dark roasting, machine versus man in single-cup brewing, the difficulty of producing single shots of espresso, the unfairly maligned blended coffee drink, and competing versus cooperating with other coffee companies, were among the topics explored in the daylong event. No one, however, did more to shatter longstanding coffee myths than keynote presenters Kyle Glanville and Charles Babinksi, the duo behind Los Angeles' own G&B; Coffee and Go Get 'Em Tiger. The charming and talented pair spoke at length about the way they do things at their shops, and how they make The second Barista Nation Los Angeles was even more popular that the first one, bringing retailing decisions. For example, they discussed their together more than 300 baristas from across the western United States to take advantage of Barista Nation's free-education mantra, make new friends, check out new equipment, and learn practice of pregrinding for espresso shots. (And from both experts and peers. At bo om, Kyle Glanville (le ) and Charles Babinski, who own yes, when they broached the topic, you could almost L.A.'s popular G&B; Coffee and Go Get 'Em Tiger, delivered the keynote address on the topic of hear attendees' minds being blown in the room.) As myth-busting, inspiring the audience with advice to try new things and buck common trends. Charles and Kyle explained, however, the decision reason behind the decisions that are made besides the old adage, was made after plenty of trial and error, review of the shop's flow "That's the way we've always done it." and efficiency, and agreement that quality would not be sacrificed. Really, that perfectly encapsulated the myth-busting ethos of With an understanding of when the busiest times of the day the event. Presenters weren't recommending doing things in a new occur, Charles and Kyle dedicate one barista to weighing and way simply for the sake of being different, but rather to purposefulgrinding coffee for espresso. This way, the barista who is making ly and deliberately think about why things are done in a particular the espresso isn't distracted from engaging with a customer. Kyle way, and to question, investigate, and discover if there are perhaps explained that the practice improves workflow and service, and better ways to reach the same goal of great quality coffee and according to Charles, doesn't affect the taste of the coffee, provided customer service. the grounds are used within a 30-minute window. After the day of sessions, classes and the keynote, the second edition Using this specific example as an analogy, Kyle explained that of Barista Nation Los Angeles wrapped up the way they all seem to: whenever baristas are presented with "the right way" to do somewith a latte art throwdown, awesome food trucks, and tasty beer for thing, they ought to first ask why, and then they should follow up the attendees. It was such a success that talks are already underway with, "Are you sure?" He doesn't recommend the process to create to see about a third installment in L.A. next year—and that's no myth. discord or be argumentative. Rather, it's to ensure that there's a —Kenneth R. Olson www.baristamagazine.com 25

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