Serving People Serving Coffee Since 2005
Issue link: http://baristamagazine.epubxp.com/i/609699
31 www.baristamagazine.com Barista Champions, the USBC Champion, and the WBC Champion on extensive trips to coffee-producing countries on an annual basis. It's hard to believe that five years ago, importers weren't seeing the value of investing in baristas as much as they are now. With these sponsorships, Café Imports was truly the first. Teams of educators and field experts from Café Imports have accompanied barista groups through Brazil (2011), Costa Rica (2012), Kenya (2013), and Ecuador (2014), and this trip to Colombia would be the fifth and, sadly, the last such trip for now under this cur- rent structure. (When the Specialty Coffee Association of America announced in June the cancelation of the annual Regional Barista Championship events, Café Imports withdrew the Origin Trip spon- sorship moving forward. Café Imports' Noah Namowicz says he saw great value in the regional events for their ability to expose leaders in the six territories where the preliminary contests took place, and sup- porting those leaders was the primary reason for the Café Imports Origin Trip). Our Café Imports hosts were Noah, as well as customer service rep Jessica Brotzler, and coffee traveler Luis "Lucho" Arocha. The barista contingent consisted of Ryan, Sasa, and Sam, as well as Northeast Regional Barista Champion Sam Lewontin of Everyman Espresso; Southeast Regional Barista Champion Lem Butler of Counter Culture Coffee; and Radames Roldan of Blueprint Coffee Co. We were missing USBC Champ Charles Babinski of G&B; Coffee, but for good reason—Charles had just become a dad. Also on the trip were Gianni Cassatini of Nuova Simonelli, and Reg Barber of Reg Barber Tampers. Both sponsors of the USBC At le , 2011 Colombian Cup of Excellence winner—and longtime partner to Café Imports—Arnulfo Leguizamo serves Sam Schroeder and the rest of the baristas cups of his own coff ee during a visit to one of his two farms, Primavera. Right: The barista champs visited ExpoEspeciales, the Colombian Coff ee Federation's annual trade show and conference. They delighted in a cupping prepared specially for them at the Colombian Coff ee Hub's booth. Here, the baristas discuss their fi ndings. Pictured from le : Ryan Soeder, Radames Roldan, Sam Lewontin, and Sam Schroeder.