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40 barista magazine of specialty coffee in Trinidad. Rituals' dom- inance is both a blessing and a curse. While the company has the rare ability to easily influence the country's barista culture (since it employs nearly all of them), the lack of competition can also stifle innovation and limit consumer demand for premium prod- ucts. The climate, too, poses a challenge. Trinidad is hot, and that makes selling warm espresso drinks difficult. It's no surprise that Rituals' most-popular beverages are iced, syrupy, and frappé-like. Despite these obsta- cles, Laila believes her trip has helped spark excitement for specialty coffee and barista culture among Rituals' employees. "Rituals has such an opportunity to help push the cul- ture forward," she says, "but it has to start from the ground up; it has to be an organic process." With the conversation about start- ing a barista guild for the Caribbean already taking place, it appears that Laila's trip will have a ripple effect, inspiring baristas in a region whose specialty-coffee industry is quickly reaching the tipping point. At top, Laila watches Richard, one of Rituals' top baristas, make drinks for customers. He explains to her how they pull shots and what the customers really like in Rituals' coffee. Below, another stunning view of the Caribbean island of Trinidad. TRINIDAD