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Coffee Articles
Tierra Mia Coffeehouse Expands in Southeast L.A.
March 17, 2010 at 5:18 pm
It’s been a big week for Ulysses Romero. Tomorrow, the coffee-fueled entrepreneur celebrates the second anniversary of his South Gate coffeehouse, which he named Tierra Mia. Things have been going so well that on March 12, he debuted a second Tierra Mia in downtown Huntington Park, near the bygone Warner movie palace.
Romero was born in Norwalk and raised in La Habra. He attended Berkeley undergrad, …
Q&A With Michael Phillips: 2010 Great Lakes Regional Barista Champion
March 17, 2010 at 2:20 pm
From April 15-18, 2010, Anaheim is hosting the United States Barista Championship. Leading up to the competition, Food GPS is showcasing regional barista champions. Here’s Michael Phillips from Intelligentsia, the 2010 Great Lakes Regional Barista Champ and defending U.S. champion, who’s looking to retain his title.
What is it about coffee that inspires you?
So much, probably the most exciting thing right now is that it is …
Q&A With Greg Lefcourt: 2010 Mountain Regional Barista Champion
March 12, 2010 at 12:30 pm
From April 15-18, 2010, Anaheim is hosting the United States Barista Championship. Leading up to the competition, Food GPS is showcasing regional barista champions. Here’s Greg Lefcourt from Ozo Coffee Co., a contender for the American coffee crown:
What is it about coffee that inspires you?
The frequency of learning experiences I have surrounding coffee. Everyday I learn something new about coffee; farms, green bean sourcing, …
Q&A with Lem Butler: 2010 Southeast Regional Barista Champion
March 8, 2010 at 4:12 pm
From April 15-18, 2010, Anaheim is hosting the United States Barista Championship. Leading up to the competition, Food GPS is showcasing regional barista champions. Here’s Lem Butler from Counter Culture Coffee, a contender for the American coffee crown:
What is it about coffee that inspires you?
The farmers. I never really understood coffee until I traveled to places that grow coffee. My first trip was just …
Q&A with MIke Marquard: 2010 Midwest Regional Barista Champion
March 5, 2010 at 2:09 pm
From April 15-18, 2010, Anaheim is hosting the United States Barista Championship. Leading up to the competition, Food GPS is showcasing regional barista champions. Here’s Mike Marquard, a contender for the American coffee crown:
What is it about coffee that inspires you?
It can always be different. There are so many points when a farmer, miller, roaster, or barista can choose between a set of options, and …
Q&A with Pete Licata: 2010 Western Regional Barista Champion
March 1, 2010 at 2:30 pm
This year’s Western Regional Barista Competition was loaded with heavy hitters from California, but it turned out to be an outlier from Hawaii who took the title. Pete Licata, a two-time Midwest Regional Champ and National runner-up, relocated from Kansas to Honolulu last year. After winning the 2010 WRBC title, he discussed his experience before catching a return flight to Hawaii.
What did you learn …
Aloha from 2010 Western Regional Barista Competition
March 1, 2010 at 9:30 am
Barista competition season is once again going full-blast, and Southern California is currently the epicenter. This past weekend, Hollywood’s Siren Studios hosted the Western Regional Barista Competition, with 30 top baristas from California, Alaska and Hawaii vying for a coveted slot in the 2010 United States Barista Championship, which will be held in Anaheim from April 15-18. Several hundred people filled Siren Studios for Sunday’s …
Q&A with Lorenzo Perkins: 2010 South Central Regional Barista Champion
February 15, 2010 at 2:48 pm
From April 15-18, 2010, Anaheim is hosting the United States Barista Championship. Leading up to the competition, Food GPS is showcasing regional barista champions. Here’s Lorenzo Perkins, a contender for the American coffee crown:
What is it about coffee that inspires you?
A continual pursuit of a nearly unattainable perfection. Coffee, espresso even more so, is such a dynamic process, from growing and processing to roasting and …
New York City Coffee Culture Status Report
February 10, 2010 at 6:22 pm
Since my last visit to Manhattan in May 2009, the New York City coffee scene has exploded even more. Stumptown set up shop in Red Hook and opened a Manhattan coffeehouse at the Ace. Café Grumpy continues to employ a multi-roaster attack, but is also roasting its own beans in Greenpoint. Premium farm-to-cup coffee roasters like Intelligentsia and Counter Culture don’t have coffeehouses - yet …
SoCal is Ground Zero for U.S. Baristas in 2010
February 10, 2010 at 4:00 pm
Competition season is ramping up again in the coffee world. The South Central Regional Barista Competition is already in the books, and nine more regional competitions are forthcoming. Locally, the Western Regional Barista Competition runs February 26-28, with top baristas from California, Alaska and Hawaii vying for a coveted slot in the Semi-Finals of the 2010 United States Barista Championship. The marquee event is held …
Caffe Luxxe Brentwood Expansion and Update
February 10, 2010 at 9:53 am
Rumors have been swirling about Caffe Luxxe, the Westside espresso house from Mark Wain and Gary Chau. Wain recently clarified the news and even announced an additional opening.
Let’s start in Brentwood, at the Caffe Luxxe in the former Dutton’s Bookstore Café. “Everybody keeps telling me my Brentwood location is going away,” says Wain. “It isn’t in the short term. The suspense has always been that …
Andrew Barnett Discusses Ecco Caffe Relocation
February 1, 2010 at 3:46 pm
Ecco Caffe, the lauded Santa Rosa coffee roastery, is on the verge of relocating to San Francisco after a decade in Sonoma County. Andrew Barnett plans to swap the rural locale for a “vibrant, sophisticated, urbane area,” a combination café and roastery not far from Anchor Brewing Company. The company founder recently discussed the latest developments.
Food GPS: What’s motivating the move to San Francisco?
Barnett: Going …
El Sereno’s Xocólatl Coffeehouse Fosters Community
November 12, 2009 at 7:27 pm
Xocólatl is a new cacao, tea and coffeehouse in El Sereno from Semillas Sociedad Civil, a non-profit that operates two neighborhood charter schools: Academia Semillas del Pueblo (K-8) and Anahuacalmecac International University Preparatory High School. Willie “Huitzil” Reyes, a member of the band Quinto Sol, is the head barista and helps to ensure they’re “serving consciousness.”
Semillas Sociedad Civil had been looking for a way to …
Primera Taza Coffeehouse Opens in Boyle Heights
September 15, 2009 at 4:40 pm
Boyle Heights native Juan Romero opened Primera Taza coffeehouse in his neighborhood at the end of July, offering “quality coffee, one taza (cup) at a time.” The coffeehouse’s logo is a mariachi kiosk, in tribute to nearby Mariachi Plaza.
The surrounding neighborhood is on the upswing thanks to the Metro Gold Line expansion, LAPD’s new Hollenbeck station, the new White Memorial Medical Center and the new …
Antigua Coffee House Opens in Cypress Park
September 10, 2009 at 12:08 am
Fifth-generation coffee roaster Yancey Quinones opened Antigua Coffee House on September 8 in Cypress Park, a neighborhood that’s sandwiched between downtown and Highland Park. He owned a coffeehouse by the same name in El Sereno but lost his lease a year ago and relocated.
For many years, the space housed an ice cream parlor, and leading up to Antigua, it held a clothing store. Quinones grew …
Manhattan Coffeehouse Tour and Impressions
June 10, 2009 at 3:26 pm
For years, Seattle was considered the nation’s coffee capital, but now the action has moved further south to Portland. Or has it? Several trusted coffee professionals seem to think that New York is currently the U.S. epicenter of coffee culture. Previous NYC coffee experiences haven’t proven that point, so I took a closer look during a May visit to Manhattan.
Quality aside, some things jumped out …
Intelligentsia Venice Day One
June 8, 2009 at 5:46 pm
Peanut Butter Wolf was spinning and the music was pumping. Over 1000 people ripped through seven kegs of Stone and a U-Haul’s worth of wine. Wurstkuche staffers were grilling hundreds of sausages out front. Baristas pulled shots of espresso and fired up vac pots. And then, after 2 AM…silence. May 22’s grand opening party for Intelligentsia Venice may have been the biggest coffee-related party in …
LAMILL Introduces Signature Drinks & Recession Roast
May 5, 2009 at 8:21 pm
Craig Min has rolled out two new signature drinks at the Silver Lake coffee boutique he owns with wife Jean Shim-Min. Amber Johnson, LAMILL’s manager/barista/trainer, developed the first recipe for the United States Barista Championship. When she presented Caramel Corn in Portland, Johnson said she was interested in deconstructing common comfort foods and reconstructing them in surprising ways. At LAMILL, she begins with fresh house-made …
The Most Played Out Dishes and Ingredients (Part 1)
May 5, 2009 at 11:42 am
Considering how much we spend at restaurants and bars, there’s no excuse for chefs and bartenders who resort to hackneyed dishes and ingredients. Here are some played out options that should be stricken from menus. Diners and drinkers deserve better. Down in the COMMENTS section, let me know what else you could do without.
BONELESS AND SKINLESS CHICKEN BREAST
It’s no secret that meat is most …
Kean Coffee – Tustin, CA – Friday, April 3, 2009
April 8, 2009 at 5:12 pm
Not many coffee professionals can say they wielded a machete while leading expeditions to unearth Mayan ruins, but that’s exactly the case with Martin Diedrich, who just opened a second branch of Kean Coffee in Tustin with wife Karen.
Diedrich grew up on his family’s coffee farm in the Guatemalan highlands and studied to become an archaeologist at the University of Texas. He was on his …
“The Perfect Cappuccino” Screens on May 3 in Los Feliz
April 8, 2009 at 2:08 pm
On Sunday, May 3, Amy Ferraris is screening “The Perfect Cappuccino” at Los Feliz 3 Cinemas as part of the LA United Film Festival. Her coffee-related documentary is “the story of one woman’s obsession with a beverage. The film will accompany me on a personally-narrated journey that will trace the origins and social significance of the cappuccino…Blending the voices of baristas, cultural critics, business leaders …
PDX Coffeehouse Bike Tour – Portland, OR – March 5, 2009
March 20, 2009 at 12:07 pm
The four-day United States Barista Championship determined the 2009 American coffee champ, but the excitement wasn’t limited to the Oregon Convention Center. Case in point: On March 5 and 6, when first-round action was winding down for the day, a convoy departed from the Convention Center and visited six different coffeehouses. It was the caffeinated equivalent of a pub crawl, only without the potential B.U.I. …
Impressions from my first United States Barista Championship
March 19, 2009 at 10:59 pm
From March 5-8, I was in Portland to cover the 2009 United States Barista Championship. Aside from a first round foray to tour Portland coffeehouses by bike, I witnessed almost every minute of espresso-fueled action, culminating with Michael Phillips’ victory. Here are my USBC impressions:
1. LobSpro? Really?
The USBC will likely be remembered for two things: Phillips’ victory and Jay Caragay’s signature drink, which emcee Kyle …
Stumptown Coffee Roasters (Ace Hotel) – Portland, OR – March 4, 2009
March 16, 2009 at 3:28 pm
Since 1999, Duane Sorensen and his company have done such a good job of marketing their beans to Portland coffeehouses that it’s hard to imagine another coffee roaster gaining traction in the Rose City. The location in the trendy Ace Hotel is probably the company’s most contemporary coffeehouse, dating to 2007, with stark white and wood walls and overhead menus. It’s a good thing that …
Spella Caffe - Portland, OR - March 4, 2009
March 16, 2009 at 11:20 am
Portland clearly has a passion for food carts, and a passion for coffee, so it was no surprise that a local decided to combine the two concepts. Tony (”Tonx”) Konecny tipped me off to Andrea Spella’s trailer near the Ace Hotel, saying the owner produced his favorite shot of espresso from the past year on his manual machine. The idea of a coffee trailer is …
Interview with U.S. Barista Champion Michael Phillips
March 11, 2009 at 9:20 am
Intelligentsia’s Michael Phillips outperformed 60 other baristas to capture the 2009 United States Barista Championship in Portland. Now he owns an oversized novelty check, a trip to Atlanta to compete in April’s World Barista Championship, and the adulation of the coffee industry. Phillips took time out of his busy schedule to discuss his USBC victory, the upcoming WBC and how he first developed passion for …
Spring for Coffee Beginning March 11
March 10, 2009 at 11:22 am
At the Western Regional Barista Competition, Archie Hernandez revealed plans to open a “wine bar for coffee” called Spring for Coffee on the ground floor of the old Lloyd’s Bank building. Hernandez (a 5 year Peet’s veteran) partnered with Maru Nagano (Morihiro Onodera’s longtime sous chef at Mori Sushi) and Ken Yoshitake (a fine art collector). They plan to open tomorrow, March 11.
Hernandez is an …
2009 United States Barista Champion…Michael Phillips
March 8, 2009 at 4:39 pm
The USBC finals are complete at the Oregon Convention Center and your 2009 United States Barista Champion is…Michael Phillips!
Phillips placed out of the Top 3 in the Great Lakes Regional, but he was convinced he could perform better and paid his own way to Portland to compete. Now he’s left holding the oversized novelty check, which will cover up to $7500 in travel expenses to …
2009 United States Barista Championship Finals
March 8, 2009 at 11:20 am
The USBC finals are underway at the Oregon Convention Center. Here’s the rundown of performances by baristas still competing for the American coffee crown:
Liz at Twitchy.org is also blogging in the booth and has some different perspective.
1. Ryan Willbur - Intelligentsia Coffee - Los Angeles, CA
COFFEE
Willbur revealed more information about his Guatemalan coffee today that during the Semi-Finals, explaining the Huehuetenango coffee received Meyer lemon …
Finalists Announced for 2009 USBC
March 7, 2009 at 6:14 pm
25 baristas battled today for 6 slots in Sunday’s final round of the 2009 Regional Barista Championship. Here’s the list of competitors still in the running for the American coffee crown:
1. Scott Lucey – Alterra Coffee – Milwaukee, WI (Great Lakes Champ)
2. Mike Marquard - Kaldi’s Coffeehouse - St. Louis, MO
3. Nick Griffith – Intelligentsia Coffee & Tea – Los Angeles, CA (Western Champ)
4. Ryan Willbur - Intelligentsia Coffee - Los Angeles, CA
5. Devin Pedde - Intelligentsia Coffee - Los Angeles, CA
6. Michael Phillips - Intelligentsia Coffee - Chicago, IL
2009 United States Barista Championship Semi-Finals
March 7, 2009 at 10:06 am
I’m at the Oregon Convention Center in Portland providing minute-by-minute reports on the 2009 United States Barista Championship. Today’s semi-final round revolves around the 25 remaining baristas, who are vying for six slots in Sunday’s finals. Check back for frequent updates.
Katie Duris – Murky Coffee – Arlington, VA (Mid Atlantic Champ)
Duris was out to prove that “Contrasting flavors and ingredients can complement each other.”
COFFEE
A three-bean …
USBC Semifinalist Clancy Rose (Cuvee Coffee Roasters)
March 7, 2009 at 12:30 am
From March 5-8, the Oregon Convention Center in Portland is hosting the United States Barista Championship. Food GPS is showcasing baristas who decided to compete for greater glory. Here’s a contender for the American coffee crown:
Clancy Rose
Cuvee Coffee Roasters – Austin, TX
South Central Regional Barista Champion
Did anything surprise you about the regional competition?
No. It was only our second one. It was our second year doing …
USBC Semifinalist Danielle Glasky (Octane Coffee)
March 7, 2009 at 12:26 am
From March 5-8, the Oregon Convention Center in Portland is hosting the United States Barista Championship. Food GPS is showcasing baristas who decided to compete for greater glory. Here’s a contender for the American coffee crown:
USBC Semifinalist Danielle Glasky
Octane Coffee – Atlanta, GA
Did anything surprise you about your regional competition?
I realized that a delicious beverage doesn’t score well. It can score poorly. If it’s not …
2009 USBC Semifinalists Announced
March 6, 2009 at 6:40 pm
51 baristas competed over two days for 15 slots in Saturday’s semifinal round of the 2009 Regional Barista Championship. The ten Regional Barista Championships received a bye and will fill out the remaining field of 25 baristas.
Without further ado, here’s the remaining USBC field:
Alex Pond – The Fresh Pot – Portland, OR (Northwest Champ)
Nick Griffith – Intelligentsia Coffee & Tea – Los Angeles, CA (Western …
2009 United States Barista Championship (Day 2)
March 6, 2009 at 9:20 am
From March 5-8, the Oregon Convention Center in Portland is hosting the United States Barista Championship. Throughout the competition, Food GPS is providing minute-by-minute reports on baristas who decided to compete for the American coffee crown:
Erik Williams – Caffe Sole – Boulder, CO
COFFEE
Williams began his presentation with “Baby Elephant Walk” playing in the background, then explained his “love affair with coffee.” As the Bee Gees …
USBC Semifinalist Jason Silberschlag (Cartel Coffee Lab)
March 6, 2009 at 12:20 am
From March 5-8, the Oregon Convention Center in Portland is hosting the United States Barista Championship. Leading up to the USBC, Food GPS is showcasing baristas who decided to compete for the American coffee crown:
Jason Silberschlag
Cartel Coffee Roasters – Tempe, AZ
South West Regional Barista Champion
Did anything surprise you about your regional competition?
I was kind of surprised that there were so few people there from our …
2009 United States Barista Championship (Day One)
March 5, 2009 at 9:24 am
From March 5-8, the Oregon Convention Center in Portland is hosting the United States Barista Championship. Throughout the competition, Food GPS is providing minute-by-minute reports on baristas who decided to compete for the American coffee crown:
Travis Edwards – Murky Coffee – Arlington, VA
COFFEE
For his cappuccinos, Edwards promised the judges “nutty sweetness from the milk, berry body, chocolate notes and lemon sweetness.” Edwards used a blend …
4th Machine Schedule for USBC 2009
March 5, 2009 at 9:03 am
During barista championships, three espresso machines are devoted to competition. “The Fourth Machine” is a barista competition tradition where attendees are treated to complimentary espresso drinks from specialty coffeehouses, with many shots pulled by competitors. Here’s the schedule so far for USBC 2009:
THURSDAY, MARCH 5, 2009 (ROUND ONE)
8:30 AM - 10:30 AM: DoubleShot Coffee Company (Ambergris Espresso Blend)
10:30 AM - Noon: Stone Cup Roasting Co. …
USBC Competitor January Vawter (Blend Coffee)
March 4, 2009 at 6:03 pm
From March 5-8, the Oregon Convention Center in Portland is hosting the United States Barista Championship. Leading up to the USBC, Food GPS is showcasing baristas who decided to compete for the American coffee crown:
January Vawter
Blend Coffee – Portland, OR
1. Did anything surprise you about your regional competition?
The whole experience was pretty surprising. Going into the comp I was overwhelmed and intimidated. But ultimately the …
USBC Competitor Jay Caragay (The Spro Coffee)
March 4, 2009 at 9:00 am
From March 5-8, the Oregon Convention Center in Portland is hosting the United States Barista Championship. Leading up to the USBC, Food GPS is showcasing baristas who decided to compete for the American coffee crown:
Jay Caragay
Spro Coffee – Towson, MD
1. Did anything surprise you about your regional competition?
This year, I helped another competitor prepare for the regional. It was her first competition and I …
USBC Competitor Claire Ghormley (Mon Ami Café)
March 4, 2009 at 8:55 am
From March 5-8, the Oregon Convention Center in Portland is hosting the United States Barista Championship. Leading up to the USBC, Food GPS is showcasing baristas who decided to compete for the American coffee crown:
Claire Ghormley
Mon Ami Café – Vancouver, WA
1. Did anything surprise you about your regional competition?
I was surprised at how well I did. When I got my score card back I …
USBC Competitor David Sapp
March 4, 2009 at 8:50 am
From March 5-8, the Oregon Convention Center in Portland is hosting the United States Barista Championship. Leading up to the USBC, Food GPS is showcasing baristas who decided to compete for the American coffee crown:
David Sapp
Charleston, SC
1. Did anything surprise you about your regional competition?
The level of competition was improved over last year, the venue was strikingly good, and the provided grinder was impressive …
Portland Coffeehouse Bike Tour on March 5-6
March 1, 2009 at 10:50 pm
We’re only three days away from the United States Barista Championship. The four-day competition will determine the 2009 American coffee champ, and that’s not all. You’ll also find several unique satellite events. Case in point: the two-day bike tour of Portland coffeehouses. On March 5 & 6, when first-round action is winding down for the day, a convoy will depart from the Oregon Convention Center …
USBC Competitor Kristina Merryman (Lava Java)
March 1, 2009 at 10:20 pm
From March 5-8, the Oregon Convention Center in Portland is hosting the United States Barista Championship. Leading up to the USBC, Food GPS is showcasing baristas who placed in the Top 6 in their respective region and decided to compete for greater glory. Here’s a contender for the American coffee crown:
Kristina Merryman
Lava Java – Ridgefield, WA
Northwest Regional Barista Competition Finalist
1. Did anything surprise you about …
USBC Competitor Breanna Lloyd (Coffee Bean International)
March 1, 2009 at 12:35 am
From March 5-8, the Oregon Convention Center in Portland is hosting the United States Barista Championship. Leading up to the USBC, Food GPS is showcasing baristas who decided to compete for the American coffee crown:
Breanna Lloyd
Coffee Bean International – Portland, OR
1. Did anything surprise you about your regional competition?
The biggest surprise was how amazing everyone was. I was very nervous (new people kind of scare …
USBC Competitor Colin Whitcomb (Alterra Coffee)
February 28, 2009 at 3:28 pm
From March 5-8, the Oregon Convention Center in Portland is hosting the United States Barista Championship. Leading up to the USBC, Food GPS is showcasing baristas who decided to compete for the American coffee crown:
Colin Whitcomb
Alterra Coffee – Milwaukee, WI
1. Did anything surprise you about your regional competition?
I was surprised by the fact that five cafes were represented in the finals; pleasantly surprised.
2. Will …
USBC Competitor Dale B. Donchey (method)
February 28, 2009 at 11:41 am
From March 5-8, the Oregon Convention Center in Portland is hosting the United States Barista Championship. Leading up to the USBC, Food GPS is showcasing baristas who placed in the Top 6 in their respective region and decided to compete for greater glory. Here’s a contender for the American coffee crown:
Dale B. Donchey
method. Coffee Bar & Tea Lounge
South East Regional Barista Competition Finalist
1. Did anything …
USBC Competitor Joshua Flail (Octane Coffee)
February 28, 2009 at 11:36 am
From March 5-8, the Oregon Convention Center in Portland is hosting the United States Barista Championship. Leading up to the USBC, Food GPS is showcasing baristas who placed in the Top 6 in their respective region and decided to compete for greater glory. Here’s a contender for the American coffee crown:
Joshua Flail
Octane Coffee – Atlanta, GA
South East Regional Barista Competition Finalist
1. Did anything surprise you …
USBC Competitor Benjamin Wilkinson (Blue State Coffee)
February 28, 2009 at 11:27 am
From March 5-8, the Oregon Convention Center in Portland is hosting the United States Barista Championship. Leading up to the USBC, Food GPS is showcasing baristas who placed in the Top 6 in their respective region and decided to compete for greater glory. Here’s a contender for the American coffee crown:
Benjamin Wilkinson
Blue State Coffee – New Haven, CT
Northeast Regional Barista Competition Finalist
1. Did anything surprise …
USBC Competitor Christopher Weber (PT’s Coffee Roasting Co.)
February 27, 2009 at 8:57 pm
From March 5-8, the Oregon Convention Center in Portland is hosting the United States Barista Championship. Leading up to the USBC, Food GPS is showcasing baristas who placed in the Top 6 in their respective region and decided to compete for greater glory. Here’s a contender for the American coffee crown:
Christopher Weber
PT’s Coffee Roasting Co. - Topeka, KS
Midwest Regional Barista Competition Finalist
1. Did anything surprise …
USBC Competitor Sara Peterson (The Abbey)
February 26, 2009 at 4:39 pm
From March 5-8, the Oregon Convention Center in Portland is hosting the United States Barista Championship. Leading up to the USBC, Food GPS is showcasing baristas who placed in the Top 6 in their respective region and decided to compete for greater glory. Here’s a contender for the American coffee crown:
Sara Peterson
The Abbey coffeeart & music lounge – Santa Cruz, CA
Western Regional Barista Competition Finalist
1. …
USBC Competitor Chris DeMarse (Alliance World Coffees)
February 26, 2009 at 1:33 pm
From March 5-8, the Oregon Convention Center in Portland is hosting the United States Barista Championship. Leading up to the USBC, Food GPS is showcasing baristas who placed in the Top 6 in their respective region and decided to compete for greater glory. Here’s a contender for the American coffee crown:
Chris DeMarse
Alliance World Coffees – Muncie, IN
Great Lakes Regional Barista Finalist
1. Did anything surprise you …
USBC Competitor Les Stoneham (La Terza Coffee)
February 26, 2009 at 9:03 am
From March 5-8, the Oregon Convention Center in Portland is hosting the United States Barista Championship. Leading up to the USBC, Food GPS is showcasing baristas who placed in the Top 6 in their respective region and decided to compete for greater glory. Here’s a contender for the American coffee crown:
Les Stoneham
La Terza Coffee – Cincinnati, OH
Great Lakes Regional Barista Competition Finalist
1. Did anything surprise …
USBC Competitor Greg Lefcourt (Ozo Coffee Co.)
February 25, 2009 at 10:00 pm
From March 5-8, the Oregon Convention Center in Portland is hosting the United States Barista Championship. Leading up to the USBC, Food GPS is showcasing baristas who placed in the Top 6 in their respective region and decided to compete for greater glory. Here’s a contender for the American coffee crown:
Greg Lefcourt
Ozo Coffee Co. - Boulder, CO
Mountain Regional Barista Champion
1. Did anything surprise you about …
USBC Competitor Michael Phillips (Intelligentsia)
February 25, 2009 at 5:12 pm
From March 5-8, the Oregon Convention Center in Portland is hosting the United States Barista Championship. Leading up to the USBC, Food GPS is showcasing baristas who placed in the Top 6 in their respective region and decided to compete for greater glory. Here’s a contender for the American coffee crown:
Michael Phillips
Intelligentsia Coffee & Tea – Chicago, IL
Great Lakes Regional Barista Competition Finalist
1. Did anything …
USBC Competitor Jesse Crouse (Intelligentsia)
February 25, 2009 at 5:02 pm
From March 5-8, the Oregon Convention Center in Portland is hosting the United States Barista Championship. Leading up to the USBC, Food GPS is showcasing baristas who placed in the Top 6 in their respective region and decided to compete for greater glory. Here’s a contender for the American coffee crown:
Jesse Crouse
Intelligentsia Coffee & Tea – Chicago, IL
Great Lakes Regional Barista Competition Finalist
1. Did anything …
USBC Competitor Amber Johnson (LAMILL Coffee)
February 25, 2009 at 4:20 pm
From March 5-8, the Oregon Convention Center in Portland is hosting the United States Barista Championship. Leading up to the USBC, Food GPS is showcasing baristas who decided to compete for the American coffee crown:
Amber Johnson
LAMILL Coffee – Los Angeles, CA
1. Did anything surprise you about your regional competition?
I was surprised by how much fun it was and how hot the lights are!
2. …
USBC Competitor Scott Lucey (Alterra Coffee)
February 25, 2009 at 9:27 am
From March 5-8, the Oregon Convention Center in Portland is hosting the United States Barista Championship. Leading up to the USBC, Food GPS is showcasing baristas who placed in the Top 6 in their respective region and decided to compete for greater glory. Here’s a contender for the American coffee crown:
Scott Lucey
Alterra Coffee – Milwaukee, WI
Great Lakes Regional Barista Champion
1. Did anything surprise you about …
USBC Competitor Trevor Corlett (MadCap Coffee)
February 25, 2009 at 9:18 am
From March 5-8, the Oregon Convention Center in Portland is hosting the United States Barista Championship. Leading up to the USBC, Food GPS is showcasing baristas who placed in the Top 6 in their respective region and decided to compete for greater glory. Here’s a contender for the American coffee crown:
Trevor Corlett
MadCap Coffee – Grand Rapids, MI
Great Lakes Regional Barista Competition Finalist
1. Did anything …
USBC Competitor Robin Crosby (Coal Creek Coffee)
February 24, 2009 at 3:05 pm
From March 5-8, the Oregon Convention Center in Portland is hosting the United States Barista Championship. Leading up to the USBC, Food GPS is showcasing baristas who placed in the Top 6 in their respective region and decided to compete for greater glory. Here’s a contender for the American coffee crown:
Robin Crosby
Coal Creek Coffee Company – Laramie, WY
Mountain Regional Barista Competition Finalist
1. Did anything surprise …
USBC Competitor Amber Sather (AMS)
February 20, 2009 at 4:09 pm
From March 5-8, the Oregon Convention Center in Portland is hosting the United States Barista Championship. Leading up to the USBC, Food GPS is showcasing baristas who placed in the Top 6 in their respective region and decided to compete for greater glory. Here’s a contender for the American coffee crown:
Amber Sather
AMS - Brooklyn, NY
Northeast Regional Barista Champion
1. Did anything surprise you about your regional …
USBC Competitor Lorenzo Perkins (Caffe Medici)
February 20, 2009 at 3:58 pm
From March 5-8, the Oregon Convention Center in Portland is hosting the United States Barista Championship. Leading up to the USBC, Food GPS is showcasing baristas who placed in the Top 6 in their respective region and decided to compete for greater glory. Here’s a contender for the American coffee crown:
Lorenzo Perkins
Caffe Medici – Austin, TX
South Central Regional Barista Competition Finalist
1. Did anything surprise you …
How Intelligentsia Baristas Prep for the USBC
February 19, 2009 at 1:06 pm
Leading up to the 2009 United States Barista Championship, I had an opportunity to participate in a run-through with Intelligentsia baristas Nick Griffith, Devin Pedde and Ryan Willbur at the company’s Glassell Park lab. They swept the top three slots at last month’s Western Regional Barista Championship and are hunting for greater glory in Portland beginning March 5. To prepare for the competition, they’ve been …
USBC Competitor Jesse Bladyka (Coal Creek Coffee)
February 18, 2009 at 7:16 pm
From March 5-8, the Oregon Convention Center in Portland is hosting the United States Barista Championship. Leading up to the USBC, Food GPS is showcasing baristas who placed in the Top 6 in their respective region and decided to compete for greater glory. Here’s a contender for the American coffee crown:
Jesse Bladyka
Coal Creek Coffee Company - Laramie, WY
Mountain Regional Barista Competition Finalist
1. Did anything surprise …
Intelligentsia Venice Renderings Revealed
February 17, 2009 at 12:27 am
Two weeks ago, Food GPS featured photos of the Intelligentsia Venice construction site, but photos of rubble and wood frames didn’t exactly do justice to the cutting-edge coffeehouse. Intelligentsia Coffee & Tea Director of Innovation Kyle Glanville remedied the situation by providing renderings from Ana Henton of MASS Architecture & Design. You should also know that Glanville said the opening date has shifted to the …
USBC Competitor Mike Marquard (Kaldi’s Coffee Roasting Company)
February 16, 2009 at 9:34 pm
From March 5-8, the Oregon Convention Center in Portland is hosting the United States Barista Championship. Leading up to the USBC, Food GPS is showcasing baristas who placed in the Top 6 in their respective region and decided to compete for greater glory. Here’s a contender for the American coffee crown:
Mike Marquard
Kaldi’s Coffee Roasting Company – St. Louis, MO
Midwest Regional Barista Competition Finalist
1. Did anything …
USBC Competitor Devin Pedde (Intelligentsia)
February 16, 2009 at 11:22 am
From March 5-8, the Oregon Convention Center in Portland is hosting the United States Barista Championship. Leading up to the USBC, Food GPS is showcasing baristas who placed in the Top 6 in their respective region and decided to compete for greater glory. Here’s a contender for the American coffee crown:
Devin Pedde
Intelligentsia Coffee & Tea - Los Angeles, CA
Western Regional Barista Competition Finalist
1. Did anything …
USBC Competitor Robbie Britt (Zoka Coffee Roaster)
February 16, 2009 at 11:22 am
From March 5-8, the Oregon Convention Center in Portland is hosting the United States Barista Championship. Leading up to the USBC, Food GPS is showcasing baristas who placed in the Top 6 in their respective region and decided to compete for greater glory. Here’s a contender for the American coffee crown:
Robbie Britt
Zoka Coffee Roaster – Seattle, WA
Northwest Regional Barista Competition Finalist
1. Did anything surprise you …
USBC Competitor Joseph Mains (Cartel Coffee Lab)
February 16, 2009 at 11:21 am
From March 5-8, the Oregon Convention Center in Portland is hosting the United States Barista Championship. Leading up to the USBC, Food GPS is showcasing baristas who placed in the Top 6 in their respective region and decided to compete for greater glory. Here’s a contender for the American coffee crown:
Joseph Mains
Cartel Coffee Lab – Tempe, AZ
Southwest Regional Barista Competition Finalist
1. Did anything surprise you …
USBC Competitor Nik Krankl (Taste Coffee House)
February 16, 2009 at 11:21 am
From March 5-8, the Oregon Convention Center in Portland is hosting the United States Barista Championship. Leading up to the USBC, Food GPS is showcasing baristas who placed in the Top 6 in their respective region and decided to compete for greater glory. Here’s a contender for the American coffee crown:
Nik Krankl
Taste Coffee House – Newtonville, MA
Northeast Regional Barista Competition Finalist
1. Did anything surprise you …
USBC Competitor Ryan Willbur (Intelligentsia Coffee & Tea)
February 16, 2009 at 8:29 am
From March 5-8, the Oregon Convention Center in Portland is hosting the United States Barista Championship. Leading up to the USBC, Food GPS is showcasing baristas who placed in the Top 6 in their respective region and decided to compete for greater glory. Here’s a contender for the American coffee crown:
Ryan Willbur
Intelligentsia Coffee & Tea - Los Angeles, CA
Western Regional Barista Competition Finalist
1. Did anything …
USBC Competitor Robin Seitz (PT’s Coffee Roasting Co.)
February 16, 2009 at 8:28 am
From March 5-8, the Oregon Convention Center in Portland is hosting the United States Barista Championship. Leading up to the USBC, Food GPS is showcasing baristas who placed in the Top 6 in their respective region and decided to compete for greater glory. Here’s a contender for the American coffee crown:
Robin Seitz
PT’s Coffee Roasting Co. – Topeka, KS
Midwest Regional Barista Champ
Retail General Manager / Customer …
USBC Competitor Jared Truby (Verve Coffee Roasters)
February 16, 2009 at 8:28 am
From March 5-8, the Oregon Convention Center in Portland is hosting the United States Barista Championship. Leading up to the USBC, Food GPS is showcasing baristas who placed in the Top 6 in their respective region and decided to compete for greater glory. Here’s a contender for the American coffee crown:
Jared Truby
Verve Coffee Roasters – Santa Cruz, CA
Western Regional Barista Competition Finalist
1. Did anything surprise …
Q&A with 2008 World Barista Champion Stephen Morrissey
February 14, 2009 at 10:17 am
2008 World Barista Champion Stephen Morrissey was recently in Los Angeles to help emcee the Western Regional Barista Competition. After the first day of competition, we had a chance to sit down and discuss his coffee background, influences and approach.
How did you become interested in coffee?
I started working for an Italian restaurant at 15 in a small town north of Dublin. I went from kitchen …
Intelligentsia Venice Hiring and Training
February 2, 2009 at 1:36 pm
When Intelligentsia Venice opens in early March, the cutting-edge coffeehouse will staff 9 baristas, 4 barbacks and 3 dishwashers. Intelligentsia Director of Innovation Kyle Glanville already hired Christopher “Nicely” Abel Alameda from Seattle’s Espresso Vivace. To fill out the rest of the Venice staff, Glanville recently advertised on all the coffee boards and on Craigslist.
Glanville is effectively Intelligentsia’s West Coast head of operations, and he’s …
Intelligentsia Venice Preview and Photos
February 2, 2009 at 1:14 pm
In December, I reported what to expect from Intelligentsia Venice. Last Friday, Intelligentsia Coffee & Tea Director of Innovation Kyle Glanville led me on a tour of the Venice construction site with barista Ryan Willbur and company technical specialist Nick Barnett. It may be hard to imagine based on the following photos, but Intelligentsia founder Doug Zell and Glanville should open the company’s cutting-edge Westside …
Interview with Western Barista Champ Nick Griffith
January 27, 2009 at 11:48 am
Intelligentsia’s Nick Griffith won the Western Regional Barista Competition on Sunday at downtown’s Spring Arts Tower. He sat down to discuss his experience, and what he has in store for March’s United States Barista Championship.
Did anything surprise you about the WRBC?
Griffith: It was really nice to see the enthusiasm from all the new competitors. In past years, the competitions seemed kind of inaccessible. A lot …
WRBC Champion Announced
January 25, 2009 at 2:47 pm
With no delay, the results:
1st Place: Nick Griffith - Intelligentsia Coffee & Tea - Los Angeles, CA
2nd Place: Devin Pedde – Intelligentsia Coffee & Tea – Los Angeles, CA
3rd Place: Ryan Willbur – Intelligentsia Coffee & Tea – Los Angeles, CA
Only five points separated Griffith and Pedde on an 870-point scale. Willbur was only 9 points behind Pedde.
All three Intelligentsia baristas will compete in the United States Barista Championship, from March 5-8 in Portland. No word yet on whether any of the other finalists will be there. Should they advance, the United States also hosts the 10th Annual World Barista Championship, to be held in Atlanta from April 16-19.
2009 WRBC Finals
January 25, 2009 at 11:15 am
FINALIST #1 - Ryan Willbur – Intelligentsia Coffee & Tea – Los Angeles, CA
COFFEE
Finca La Maravilla, from Huehuetenago, Guatemala, with notes of Meyer lemon, sweet sherry and a coffee flower finish, which is similar to jasmine. Meyer lemon comes from altitude and soil. The farmer grows citrus on the land. Sherry sweetness is the result of washed process. The coffee flower finish is result of …
Stephen Morrissey on Barista Competitions
January 25, 2009 at 10:06 am
Intended for a program that never took place:
The primary goal of the barista competition is to educate. It does not pretend to be a true reflection of the average cafe experience because for the most part there is great fault to be found with the average cafe experience. Great quality coffee is far too difficult to find and this competition aims to tackle that …
How Judging Works at Barista Competitions
January 24, 2009 at 10:15 pm
Judges at regional, national and world-level barista competitions all adhere to SCAA guidelines. Each barista welcomes the scrutiny of two Technical judges who work the floor and four Sensory Judges who sit in a row at a table. Each Sensory Judge can award a possible 179 points. Each Technical Judge can award a possible 77 points. The Head Judge tallies all the points on their …
Western Regional Barista Competition Finalists Announced
January 24, 2009 at 5:06 pm
Day Two of the Western Regional Barista Competition concluded with the announcement of six Finalists. Before emcees Stephen Morrissey, Kyle Glanville and Chris Baca made the announcement, the crowd got a glimpse of the three trophies, which will be awarded Sunday. Each wooden trophy hosts a portafilter, tamper and espresso cup. First place gets a black cup, second place a tan and third place white. …
Western Regional Barista Competition (Day 2)
January 24, 2009 at 1:06 pm
1. Louie Poore – Zoka Coffee – Seattle, WA
Poore competed out of region, since Seattle resides in the Northwest. As a result, he was unable to qualify for the United States Barista Championship through the WRBC.
COFFEE
Zoka’s Palladino, a two-bean blend of Brazilian Cerrado and Ethiopian Sidamo. Brazilian helps round out fruit notes and bring in some brown sugar.
SIGNATURE DRINK
Made sauce last night with blueberries and …
Western Regional Barista Competition (Day 1)
January 24, 2009 at 12:58 am
The Western Regional Barista Competition is underway at downtown’s Spring Arts Tower, a former bank. Top baristas from California are battling for six slots in Sunday’s Finals.
The competition isn’t the only draw for visitors. “The Fourth Machine,” an additional espresso machine, treats guests to single-origin coffees from premiere coffee roasters. Today, Verve Coffee Roasters (Santa Cruz), Intelligentsia, Kean Coffee (Newport Beach) and LAMILL Coffee pulled …
Impact of Customized Water on Coffee and Tea
January 22, 2009 at 3:44 pm
Water accounts for 98.5% of the volume in a cup of coffee or tea, so the quality of the water you use is important. Toward that end, David Beeman founded The Water System Group 31 years ago “to help the world through water.”
The Southern California native began by building residential reverse osmosis filtration systems. 20 years ago, Beeman formulated water for a West L.A. pizzeria …
Barista: Michael Richardson
January 21, 2009 at 12:17 pm
From January 23-25, top baristas from California and Hawaii will converge on Los Angeles to compete at the Western Regional Barista Competition. The winner scores a coveted slot in the Semi-Finals of the 2009 United States Barista Championship. Here’s one of the baristas you’ll find competing at downtown L.A.’s Spring Arts Tower:
Name: Michael Richardson
Coffeehouse: Kean Coffee
Location: Newport Beach, CA
1. Why did you decide to compete …
Barista: Brendan McCarthy
January 21, 2009 at 9:52 am
From January 23-25, top baristas from California and Hawaii will converge on Los Angeles to compete at the Western Regional Barista Competition. The winner scores a coveted slot in the Semi-Finals of the 2009 United States Barista Championship. Here’s one of the baristas you’ll find competing at downtown L.A.’s Spring Arts Tower:
Name: Brendan McCarthy
Coffeehouse: Red Rock Coffee Co.
Location: Mountain View, CA
1. Why did you decide …
Barista: Nick Griffith
January 17, 2009 at 11:22 am
From January 23-25, top baristas from California and Hawaii will converge on Los Angeles to compete at the Western Regional Barista Competition. The winner scores a coveted slot in the Semi-Finals of the 2009 United States Barista Championship. Here’s one of the baristas you’ll find competing at downtown L.A.’s Spring Arts Tower:
Name: Nick Griffith
Coffeehouse: Intelligentsia Coffee & Tea
Location: Los Angeles, CA
1. Why did you decide …
Barista: Amber Johnson
January 17, 2009 at 11:16 am
From January 23-25, top baristas from California and Hawaii will converge on Los Angeles to compete at the Western Regional Barista Competition. The winner scores a coveted slot in the Semi-Finals of the 2009 United States Barista Championship. Here’s one of the baristas you’ll find competing at downtown L.A.’s Spring Arts Tower:
Name: Amber Johnson
Coffeehouse: LAMILL COFFEE
Location: Los Angeles, CA
1. Why did you decide …
Barista: Devin Pedde
January 16, 2009 at 10:31 pm
From January 23-25, top baristas from California and Hawaii will converge on Los Angeles to compete at the Western Regional Barista Competition. The winner scores a coveted slot in the Semi-Finals of the 2009 United States Barista Championship. Here’s one of the baristas you’ll find competing at downtown L.A.’s Spring Arts Tower:
Name: Devin Pedde
Coffeehouse: Intelligentsia
Location: Los Angeles, CA
1. Why did you decide to compete in …
Barista: Kan “The Barista Ninja” Hasegawa
January 16, 2009 at 4:46 pm
From January 23-25, top baristas from California and Hawaii will converge on Los Angeles to compete at the Western Regional Barista Competition. The winner scores a coveted slot in the Semi-Finals of the 2009 United States Barista Championship. Here’s one of the baristas you’ll find competing at downtown L.A.’s Spring Arts Tower:
Name: Kan “The Barista Ninja” Hasegawa
Coffeehouse: Café Abir
Location: San Francisco, CA
1. Why did you …
Barista: Lita Lopez
January 16, 2009 at 4:38 pm
From January 23-25, top baristas from California and Hawaii will converge on Los Angeles to compete at the Western Regional Barista Competition. The winner scores a coveted slot in the Semi-Finals of the 2009 United States Barista Championship. Here’s one of the baristas you’ll find competing at downtown L.A.’s Spring Arts Tower:
Name: Lita Lopez
Coffeehouse: groundwork coffee co.
Location: Los Angeles, CA
1. Why did you decide to …
Barista: Ross Barclay
January 16, 2009 at 4:29 pm
From January 23-25, top baristas from California and Hawaii will converge on Los Angeles to compete at the Western Regional Barista Competition. The winner scores a coveted slot in the Semi-Finals of the 2009 United States Barista Championship. Here’s one of the baristas you’ll find competing at downtown L.A.’s Spring Arts Tower:
Name: Ross Barclay
Coffeehouse: Tobys Coffee
Location: Point Reyes Station, CA
1. Why did you decide to …
Barista: Jared Truby
January 16, 2009 at 12:13 pm
From January 23-25, top baristas from California and Hawaii will converge on Los Angeles to compete at the Western Regional Barista Competition. The winner scores a coveted slot in the Semi-Finals of the 2009 United States Barista Championship. Here’s one of the baristas you’ll find competing at downtown L.A.’s Spring Arts Tower:
Name: Jared Truby
Coffeehouse: Verve Coffee Roasters
Location: Santa Cruz, CA
1. Why did you decide to …
Barista: Sara Peterson
January 16, 2009 at 12:06 pm
From January 23-25, top baristas from California and Hawaii will converge on Los Angeles to compete at the Western Regional Barista Competition. The winner scores a coveted slot in the Semi-Finals of the 2009 United States Barista Championship. Here’s one of the baristas you’ll find competing at downtown L.A.’s Spring Arts Tower:
Name: Sara Peterson
Coffeehouse: The Abbey coffeeart & music lounge
Location: Santa Cruz, CA
1.Why did you …
Barista: Steven Lorenzen
January 16, 2009 at 11:54 am
From January 23-25, top baristas from California and Hawaii will converge on Los Angeles to compete at the Western Regional Barista Competition. The winner scores a coveted slot in the Semi-Finals of the 2009 United States Barista Championship. Here’s one of the baristas you’ll find competing at downtown L.A.’s Spring Arts Tower:
Name: Steven Lorenzen
Coffeehouse: Barefoot Coffee Roasters
Location: Santa Clara, CA
1. Why did you decide to …
Gelato Bar adds Espresso Caffé
January 16, 2009 at 10:50 am
Gail Silverton and Joel Gutman have upgraded the coffee program at their Studio City gelato bar, utilizing a Synesso Cyncra espresso machine and beans roasted at Andrew Barnett’s Ecco Caffé in Sonoma County. Ecco is supplying Gelato Bar and Espresso Caffé with beans from Ethiopia and Brazil, including Taste of the Harvest reserve from Gabriel Carvalho Dias’ Fazenda Cachoiera coffee farm. Gelato Bar is brewing coffee using a pour-over drip method.
Barista: Ryan Willbur
January 15, 2009 at 9:45 pm
From January 23-25, top baristas from California and Hawaii will converge on Los Angeles to compete at the Western Regional Barista Competition. The winner scores a coveted slot in the Semi-Finals of the 2009 United States Barista Championship. Here’s one of the baristas you’ll find competing at downtown L.A.’s Spring Arts Tower:
Name: Ryan Willbur
Coffeehouse: Intelligentsia
Location: Los Angeles, CA
1. Why did you decide to compete in …
Barista: Frances Capell
January 15, 2009 at 9:37 pm
From January 23-25, top baristas from California and Hawaii will converge on Los Angeles to compete at the Western Regional Barista Competition. The winner scores a coveted slot in the Semi-Finals of the 2009 United States Barista Championship. Here’s one of the baristas you’ll find competing at downtown L.A.’s Spring Arts Tower:
Name: Frances Capell
Coffeehouse: Mokka
Location: Berkeley, CA
1. Why did you decide to compete in the …
Barista: Michael Porter
January 15, 2009 at 9:30 pm
From January 23-25, top baristas from California and Hawaii will converge on Los Angeles to compete at the Western Regional Barista Competition. The winner scores a coveted slot in the Semi-Finals of the 2009 United States Barista Championship. Here’s one of the baristas you’ll find competing at downtown L.A.’s Spring Arts Tower:
Name: Michael Porter
Coffeehouse: Anazao Coffee Co.
Location: Imperial, CA
1. Why did you decide to compete …
Barista: Osvaldo “Ozzie” Ortiz
January 15, 2009 at 9:22 pm
From January 23-25, top baristas from California and Hawaii will converge on Los Angeles to compete at the Western Regional Barista Competition. The winner scores a coveted slot in the Semi-Finals of the 2009 United States Barista Championship. Here’s one of the baristas you’ll find competing at downtown L.A.’s Spring Arts Tower:
Name: Osvaldo “Ozzie” Ortiz
Coffeehouse: Anazao Coffee Co.
Location: Imperial, CA
1. Why did you decide …
Barista: Nicole Mournian
January 15, 2009 at 2:46 pm
From January 23-25, top baristas from California and Hawaii will converge on Los Angeles to compete at the Western Regional Barista Competition. The winner scores a coveted slot in the Semi-Finals of the 2009 United States Barista Championship. Here’s one of the baristas you’ll find competing at downtown L.A.’s Spring Arts Tower:
Name: Nicole Mournian
Coffeehouse: Caffe Luxxe
Location: Santa Monica/Brentwood, CA
1. Why did you decide to compete …
Barista: Elaine “e-labs” Levia
January 15, 2009 at 2:35 pm
From January 23-25, top baristas from California and Hawaii will converge on Los Angeles to compete at the Western Regional Barista Competition. The winner scores a coveted slot in the Semi-Finals of the 2009 United States Barista Championship. Here’s one of the baristas you’ll find competing at downtown L.A.’s Spring Arts Tower:
Name: Elaine “e-labs” Levia
Coffeehouse: Barefoot Coffee Roasters
Location: San Jose, CA
1. Why did you decide …
Barista: Matthew P. Williams
January 15, 2009 at 2:15 pm
From January 23-25, top baristas from California and Hawaii will converge on Los Angeles to compete at the Western Regional Barista Competition. The winner scores a coveted slot in the Semi-Finals of the 2009 United States Barista Championship. Here’s one of the baristas you’ll find competing at downtown L.A.’s Spring Arts Tower:
Name: Matthew P. Williams
Coffeehouse: Verve Coffee Roasters
Location: Santa Cruz, CA
1. Why did you decide …
Western Regional Barista Competition Details
January 12, 2009 at 3:22 pm
From January 23-25, Intelligentsia and SCAA (Specialty Coffee Association of America) are hosting the Western Regional Barista Competition at downtown L.A.’s Spring Arts Tower. Top baristas from California and Hawaii vie for a coveted slot in the Semi-Finals of the United States Barista Championship.
Last year in Berkeley, Chris Baca from Ritual Coffee Roasters won the WRBC crown and finalist Kyle Glanville ended up becoming the …
Food GPS Exclusive: Intelligentsia Venice
December 10, 2008 at 6:54 pm
Intelligentsia Coffee & Tea is at the forefront of the American coffee movement, demonstrating a nearly unrivaled farm-to-cup commitment. In 2007, Doug Zell’s Chicago based company established an L.A. presence by opening a coffeehouse at Silver Lake’s Sunset Junction. Now he’s hired Ana Henton of MASS Architecture & Design to take the coffeehouse concept to another level. Intelligentsia’s larger, more dynamic branch debuts in the …
Cafe de Leche Grand Opening December 12
December 9, 2008 at 4:39 pm
Matt Schodorf and wife Anya [Ahn-jah] soft-opened Café de Leche on November 29 in Highland Park. The couple and their baristas pull espresso shots on a sleek La Marzocco using Intelligentsia beans. The brewed coffee is currently a blend of Nicaraguan and Ethiopian beans.They also make a unique mocha using organic cacao and agave nectar, a natural sweetener without the sugar rush. Café de Leche …
Lot 44 Coffee Introduces Monday Recession Buster Sale
October 20, 2008 at 8:28 pm
It won’t do you any good for a week, but Lot 44, Ariel Graham’s downtown coffeehouse, now features the Monday Recession Buster Sale. All day, $1 gets you a 12-ounce pour from the air pot. The type of coffee is barista’s choice, but today that meant Maui Mokka.
In other Lot 44 news, Graham now sells Brooklyn Bagel Bakery bagels and sandwiches and salads from Organic to Go.
October 20, 2008
Espresso Profeta – Westwood, CA – October 3, 2008
October 12, 2008 at 2:26 pm
Mitch Hale was one of the first baristas at Seattle’s famed Espresso Vivace, which David Schomer opened in 1988. Schomer learned to make northern Italian style espresso drinks from Ernesto Illy in Trieste, and Schomer in turn imparted his knowledge to Hale. He spent a year-and-a-half managing Caffe Luxxe, a well-regarded Santa Monica espresso bar, but he really wanted to open his own coffeehouse. The …
Not Everybody Behind the Bar at Intelligentsia or LA Mill is a Barista
September 24, 2008 at 12:47 pm
There are a lot of coffee misconceptions. From an organizational standpoint, one myth is the idea that everybody behind a coffee bar is automatically a barista. At Starbucks, that’s true, but not at top-tier farm-to-cup coffeehouses like Intelligentsia and LA Mill. At those Silver Lake coffeehouses, employees have different skill and commitment levels, and the most dedicated coffee professionals deserve recognition for their extra …
LAMILL Showcases Cup of Excellence Winners
September 23, 2008 at 1:44 pm
Last Friday, LAMILL CEO Craig Min sat down at his coffee bar to discuss their current initiative: showcasing Cup of Excellence coffees. Over the past two weeks, LAMILL has released three Cup of Excellence winners. By October, they’ll offer all eight of their purchases.
Cup of Excellence is an organization that determines top coffees from nine leading coffee producing nations, every year. The nations are Rwanda, …
Longtime Highland Parkers Hope to Open Café de Leche in October
September 11, 2008 at 10:55 am
Matt Schodorf and wife Anya hope to open Café De Leche in Highland Park by mid-October, pending final inspections by the city.
Matt said their inspiration was simple: “Highland Park doesn’t have a proper coffee shop. I’ve lived there for 8 years, and we have to drive to Eagle Rock to get coffee.”
Café de Leche will occupy the northwest corner of the Nogueira Building (1966), which …
Hacienda La Esmeralda Returns to Intelligentsia!
September 10, 2008 at 12:19 am
Prized Panamanian coffee Hacienda la Esmeralda was roasted yesterday at Intelligentsia’s Glassell Park facility and will be available for purchase beginning today, September 10. Cups are available for $7 on the Clover. Half-pound bags of beans are selling for $30. According to Intelligentsia barista Devin Pedde, “It’s a small price to pay for one of the best cups of coffee in the world.”
Last …
Massimo’s Mudspot Open Next to Little Bar on La Brea
September 5, 2008 at 4:11 pm
Angelo Vacco and wife Elena opened Massimo’s Mudspot two weeks ago, naming their La Brea coffeehouse for son Massimo. The couple also owns Little Bar next door, though it’s a separate operation.
Angelo considers Massimo’s Mudspot a “neighborhood café, an alternative to big corporate spots.” He always thought of the neighborhood south of Wilshire that flanks La Brea, a “hidden community.” He was craving …
Ritual Coffee Roasters - San Francisco, CA - Sunday, July 6, 2008
July 21, 2008 at 7:34 pm
Eileen Hassi and Jeremy Tooker opened this Mission District coffeehouse in May 2005. Ritual quickly built a reputation as an excellent coffeehouse. Tooker left this year to open Four Barrel down the Valencia Street. At least for now, Ritual has weathered his departure and remains one of the most compelling coffeehouses in California… Especially on this visit.
When Ritual first opened, they used …
Four Barrel - San Francisco, CA - Saturday, July 5, 2008
July 17, 2008 at 7:24 pm
Jeremy Tooker co-founded Ritual Coffee Roasters with Eileen Hassi in May 2005 and their Mission District coffeehouse quickly gained a reputation for serving the city’s best coffee. It must have ended badly, since Tooker is getting set to launch a rival coffeehouse just six blocks away. So much for a non-compete agreement.
In his new venture, Tooker has partnered with Duane Sorenson, whose Stumptown …
Blue Bottle Coffee Co. (Mint Plaza) – San Francisco, CA – Friday, July 4, 2008
July 17, 2008 at 12:51 pm
At the Ferry Plaza Farmers Market, don’t even bother getting in line at the Blue Bottle Coffee Co. cart unless you have twenty minutes to spare. Throngs of coffee junkies are willing to wait that long and longer for espresso drinks and iced coffee from the Oakland-based roastery. Anticipation was high this January when Blue Bottle owner James Freeman opened his first café …
Stumptown Coffee Annex - Portland, OR - June 15, 2008
July 1, 2008 at 5:02 pm
At the Annex, any Stumptown coffee is fresh ground and brewed to order. It’s also overflow seating for espresso drinks and Nuvrei pastries from Stumptown’s Belmont store, which is two doors down. The space is simple and sleek, with brick walls, concrete floors and black leather banquettes.
The Annex houses 20 jars of beans of varying degrees of fullness., including Los Pranes (El Salvador), …
Coffeehouse NW - Portland, OR - June 14, 2008
July 1, 2008 at 4:20 pm
Portland is considered to have either the best or second best coffee culture in the country, and within the city, certain coffeehouses are known to stand out. Leading up to our trip, well-regarded L.A. baristas frequently mentioned Albina Press and Coffeehouse NW. We visited Albina in the morning and it nudged the needle, but Coffeehouse NW practically jumped off the meter.
Coffeehouse NW owner …
Crema - Portland, OR - June 14, 2008
June 23, 2008 at 3:06 pm
We arrived at the mouth of SE Portland to find an interesting gastro-community. Noble Rot is a lauded wine bar, and just down 28th Avenue, we spotted Ken’s Artisan Pizza, but the reason for our visit was Crema, a towering two-story grey edifice with decorative roll-up garage doors,, patio seating and a reputation for having some of the best pastries and espresso drinks in …
Cafe Grumpy – Brooklyn, NY – Sunday, June 8, 2008
June 23, 2008 at 2:24 pm
Caroline Bell and husband Chris Timbrell’s Café Grumpy is often mentioned as one of the best coffeehouses in New York City. They have a second location in Chelsea (a neighborhood that seems to be Manhattan’s coffee hub), but we ventured to the Greenpoint, Brooklyn original, which opened in 2005. It was sweltering outside, not exactly prime coffee tasting weather, but as we learned, …
Kean Coffee - Newport Beach, CA
February 5, 2008 at 2:56 pm
No matter where I eat in Orange County, I inevitably combine the meal with a visit to Kean Coffee. There’s certainly excellent coffee in Los Angeles, but some of Kean’s specialty drinks warrant a significant detour.
Kean Coffee is a fairly recent phenomenon, but coffee clearly flows through owner Martin Diedrich’s veins. The Diedrich coffee connection dates to 1916, when Martin’s grandmother Charlotte inherited …
LAMILL Coffee - Los Angeles, CA - January 11, 2008
January 20, 2008 at 8:44 pm
Between the openings of Intelligentsia and Craig Min’s new “coffee boutique,” Silver Lake is suddenly ground zero for caffeine in Los Angeles. LAMILL Coffee was originally supposed to open in October, but with a project this ambitious, and by choosing a location that didn’t previously house a restaurant, there were bound to be delays. It’s not fair to expect LAMILL to be operating …
Intelligentsia (Hacienda La Esmeralda Tasting) – October 26, 2007
November 1, 2007 at 4:16 pm
In the coffee world, the gold standard for beans is the annual Cup of Excellence award, judged by an international jury of cuppers who have to pass a sensory skills test. Winning coffees are judged no less than five times. After the scores are averaged, the winning beans from each country are then sold via internet auction. Farmers benefit both financially and …
Intelligentsia - Los Angeles, CA - September 18, 2007
September 18, 2007 at 10:57 pm
A couple years back, I began discussing coffee with a writer who was very particular about his beans. He said he couldn’t stomach any of the coffee in Los Angeles, opting to ship beans from Intelligentsia in Chicago. He fell in love with the Chicago coffee roastery while attending Northwestern. Ever since he alerted me to Intelligentsia, I soon began noticing it …
Jo’s - Austin, TX - Saturday, May 12 & Sunday, May 13, 2007
May 27, 2007 at 4:34 am
After consuming nearly a cow’s worth of smoked meat in the hills east of Austin, my brother, father and I needed something sweet. We all remembered Jo’s, an outdoor cafe on trendy South Congress that supplied us with satisfying fried pies, kolache and Iced Turbos in 2006. Named for owner Liz Lambert’s mother, Jo’s is situated in the parking lot of the Hotel …
Ninth Street Espresso - New York, NY - Sunday, December 31, 2006
January 9, 2007 at 10:55 am
Bob Peyton’s sleek espresso bar in formerly foreboding Alphabet City is a magnet for caffeine-starved hipsters. And me…decidedly not a hipster. Still, I like their espresso – a lot - and I like their music. I was glad to hear the Strokes’ “Take it or Leave It” and Nirvana’s “Dumb” fill the room. Given the killer combination, I wasn’t surprised to …
Kudu Coffee - Charleston, SC - Wednesday, May 17, 2006
May 22, 2006 at 11:35 am
Kudu Coffee is “an African experience” just off a revitalized stretch of King Street, near Marion Square. In addition to the breezy interior, there’s also a spacious patio with a fountain.
Africa native John Saunders named his coffeehouse for the African antelope with helix-like horns. This taxidermied specimen sits on the back wall of the coffeehouse. In Swahili, the majestic creature is known …
Blue Bottle Coffee Co. - San Francisco, CA
November 28, 2005 at 5:25 am
To Bay Area coffee aficionados, nobody roasts better coffee than Blue Bottle. Unfortunately, until recently, Blue Bottle’s beans and brews were scarce within the city limits. A smattering of top restaurants like Fifth Floor and A16 serve post-meal Blue Bottle coffee drinks. On Saturdays outside the Ferry Building, Blue Bottle parks a coffee cart. Frog Hollow Farm serves a limited drink …
Doi Tung Coffee – Bangkok, Thailand
June 16, 2005 at 3:56 am
This was one of the few locations at Suan Lum Night Bazaar, a complex of 2000 stalls across from Lumphini Park, that was open during the day. Doi Tung is a cool stand-alone building with a wooden patio and a moat. Inside, fashionable Thai twentysomethings chat while American jazz plays over the speakers.
According to Doi Tung’s website, “To address rural poverty and alleviate …
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