Barista Magazine

DEC 2012-JAN 2013

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NEW COFFEE FEST COMPETITIONS ELECTRIFY SEATTLE ATTENDEES COFFEE FEST SEATTLE is always one of the industry's favorite annual events; the fall trade show produced specifically for independent-café owners brings together the most relevant and unique products the coffee industry has to offer, and traditionally throws in elements of fun and competition, too, with its wildly popular latte-art competition. In September, Coffee Fest Seattle offered all these things and more. Two additional coffee contests were added to the lineup: The America's Best Winners of Coffee Fest Sea le's America's Best Espresso Competition, Meg and Dan DonoEspresso Competition and the America's Best Coffeehouse Competition. hue of Blue Star Coffee Roasters in Twisp, Wash., celebrated victory with a kiss. At right, two-time United States Barista Champion Heather Perry was part of Team Klatch Coffee, "It feels more like a fair, like a coffee carnival, than just a trade show which took top honors at the America's Best Coffeehouse Competition (also held at Coffee now," said Nich Ealy-Elder of the Albina Press in Portland, Ore., as he Fest Sea le) for superb customer service and top-quality coffee. checked out the new competitions. "The America's Best Coffeehouse one is were also showcasing their best, was wonderful. We had a blast!" definitely something we might want to be a part of next year." The America's Best Coffeehouse Competition, presented by DaVinci The America's Best Espresso Competition, developed for specialty-coffee roasters, put competing companies head-to-head in a bracket-style competition Gourmet and developed in part by longtime latte-art competition judge where entrants showcased their espresso by pulling shots for a panel of judges Chris Deferio, took place outside the Coffee Fest Seattle show floor at an that included chefs and restaurateurs. (Entrants were accepted from any roaster actual café that had been designed and erected by Design & Layout Services. in the Western USA or Canada.) Judges evaluated the shots based on flavor Customers—both show attendees and judges—queued in line for drinks, complexity, mouthfeel and appeal, and aftertaste. Over the course of three days, interacted with baristas representing qualifying cafés in the Western region, 192 shots were pulled in the America's Best Espresso Competition, but it was and enjoyed drinks in the mock coffeehouse setting. The eight semifinalist cafés who took part in competition during Blue Star Coffee Roasters of Twisp, Wash., that eventually won the grand prize. "We were excited about the competition because of its focus on flavor Coffee Fest Seattle, had already passed several grueling tests, where they were and quality in the cup," said Meg Donohue, who co-owns Blue Star with evaluated by secret shoppers and subjected to public vote. Winning first place her husband, Dan, the company's green buyer and roaster. "We knew that and $2,500 was Klatch Coffee of San Dimas, California. "We worked really this was our competition, the one we'd been waiting for.  A perfect shot hard for this," said Holly Perry of Klatch Coffee. "We couldn't be happier with of espresso, pulled for each of three judges who are foodies—chefs and this win!" Heart Coffee Roasters of Portland, Ore., won second place and $1,000; and restaurant owners who are coffee lovers." Five rounds of competition took place over the course of three days. third place—and $500—went to Dog River Coffee Co. in Hood River, Oregon. Of course, the ever-popular Latte Art World Championship Open took Conduit Coffee Company of Seattle placed second, while Bowen Island place in Seattle as well, and pitted 64 baristas in a challenge of head-to-head Coffee Roasting of Bowen Island, BC, won third-place honors. "Our espresso blend is a signature blend for us, and is what we served latte-art pouring. After three days of intense competition, Kei Hamada from in the competition. Espresso is technical coffee: It brings all of our skills Shibuya, Japan, was the victor and won $2,500; Nobumasa Shimoyama from of careful and intentional bean selection, roasting, blending, and artful Melbourne, Australia, won second place and $1,000; and Cole McBride of preparation to the spotlight. The importance of the competition, the first Visions Espresso in Seattle took third place and $500. Coffee Fest organizer David Heilbrunn looks forward to the continued national competition to really showcase a roaster's art, and the chance to go head-to-head with a lot of talented roasters, really brought us into focus success of Coffee Fest's two newest competitions, which are set to take place and was a lot of fun for us to prepare for," said Meg of Blue Star. "We love at all future Coffee Fest events alongside the latte-art competition. Don't miss this industry, and the opportunity to bring the product that we love into the the next event, Coffee Fest New York, March 8–10. —Sarah Allen conversation with other roasters and espresso-machine manufacturers, who www.baristamagazine.com 23

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