Comments on: The Other Side of the Table http://www.jimseven.com/2007/09/19/the-other-side-of-the-table/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=the-other-side-of-the-table James Hoffmann's blog. Thu, 09 Feb 2012 02:29:46 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: jimseven - a barista blog | 2007 - A review of the year http://www.jimseven.com/2007/09/19/the-other-side-of-the-table/#comment-88407 jimseven - a barista blog | 2007 - A review of the year Sat, 29 Dec 2007 23:57:31 +0000 http://www.jimseven.com/2007/09/19/the-other-side-of-the-table/#comment-88407 [...] latte art in Arthur’s ear for the now hotting up Absurd Latte art challenge. My first time judging and I love it though I get very nervous. From there it is straight into the Nordic Barista Cup which is in [...] [...] latte art in Arthur’s ear for the now hotting up Absurd Latte art challenge. My first time judging and I love it though I get very nervous. From there it is straight into the Nordic Barista Cup which is in [...]

]]> By: Simon James http://www.jimseven.com/2007/09/19/the-other-side-of-the-table/#comment-68301 Simon James Thu, 20 Sep 2007 10:04:36 +0000 http://www.jimseven.com/2007/09/19/the-other-side-of-the-table/#comment-68301 James, I can relate to what you are saying. I am a Field Hockey Umpire when I'm not making coffee, and I'd love some (if not most) of the players that I umpire to experience what it's like to make decisions under pressure in a split second. It's all very well to know the rules, but to apply them in a fair/balanced way, and to effectively communicate your decisions/reasons to the competitors is a real skill. Although this is my first year competing as a Barista, I have received some interesting scoring for my beverages. In hindsight I can see where my performances/beverages were lacking, and I've read between the lines for what wasn't being communicated directly. I agree that it is beneficial for competitors to experience judging, not only so they are empathetic of what the Judges are going through, but so they can also see how they can improve their communication to the Judges. The flipside is that the Judges may not truly understand what the competitors are going through, because the Judges may not have competed themselves. In Hockey, the players are more critical of Umpires who don't currently play, and especially those Umpires who have never played. Umpires who understand what the players are trying to do, have better rapport. Playing experience obviously assists Umpires understand players intentions. The Umpires who are there for the players, and not themselves, are also more effective. I was grateful to hear Head Judge Justin Metcalf say to the competitors and Judges at the briefing of the Victorian Barista Championship this year, that the Judges are there "For" the competitors. Perhaps we should be creating interactive workshops for Baristas and Judges so there's more understanding from both sides. Surely this will only improve specialty coffee in the end. Simon. James, I can relate to what you are saying. I am a Field Hockey Umpire when I’m not making coffee, and I’d love some (if not most) of the players that I umpire to experience what it’s like to make decisions under pressure in a split second. It’s all very well to know the rules, but to apply them in a fair/balanced way, and to effectively communicate your decisions/reasons to the competitors is a real skill.
Although this is my first year competing as a Barista, I have received some interesting scoring for my beverages. In hindsight I can see where my performances/beverages were lacking, and I’ve read between the lines for what wasn’t being communicated directly.
I agree that it is beneficial for competitors to experience judging, not only so they are empathetic of what the Judges are going through, but so they can also see how they can improve their communication to the Judges.
The flipside is that the Judges may not truly understand what the competitors are going through, because the Judges may not have competed themselves. In Hockey, the players are more critical of Umpires who don’t currently play, and especially those Umpires who have never played. Umpires who understand what the players are trying to do, have better rapport. Playing experience obviously assists Umpires understand players intentions.
The Umpires who are there for the players, and not themselves, are also more effective. I was grateful to hear Head Judge Justin Metcalf say to the competitors and Judges at the briefing of the Victorian Barista Championship this year, that the Judges are there “For” the competitors.
Perhaps we should be creating interactive workshops for Baristas and Judges so there’s more understanding from both sides. Surely this will only improve specialty coffee in the end.

Simon.

]]> By: Gary Mc Gann http://www.jimseven.com/2007/09/19/the-other-side-of-the-table/#comment-68269 Gary Mc Gann Thu, 20 Sep 2007 07:56:11 +0000 http://www.jimseven.com/2007/09/19/the-other-side-of-the-table/#comment-68269 Interesting to hear your perspective. Many competitors often underestimate the role of the judges and the effort they put in. Its great to see ex competing barista getting involved in judging and helping out the organising commitees. We have several ex regional heat winners who have volunterred for judging workshops for the UKBC this year - this we have encouraged. I'm sure you will be joining them in time. In the meantime enjoy the Nordic Cup! Gary Interesting to hear your perspective. Many competitors often underestimate the role of the judges and the
effort they put in. Its great to see ex competing barista getting involved in judging and helping out the
organising commitees. We have several ex regional heat winners who have volunterred for judging workshops for the UKBC this year – this we have encouraged. I’m sure you will be joining them in time.
In the meantime enjoy the Nordic Cup!

Gary

]]> By: Emily http://www.jimseven.com/2007/09/19/the-other-side-of-the-table/#comment-68107 Emily Wed, 19 Sep 2007 21:15:14 +0000 http://www.jimseven.com/2007/09/19/the-other-side-of-the-table/#comment-68107 James I had a very similar experience some years ago when I went from competing to judging... and now when i do training of judges i always remind them of how important their job is, in terms of the level of responsibility involved in assessing, judging and commenting on their peers. It is a great pressure from my experience to cast judgement with a 4, 5 or 6 on barista after barista with the level of passion that is clearly evident. I would encourage as many competitors as possible to get involved in judging as I think it makes you a better competitor (and a better judge if you've had a go at competing). Unfortunately, at the WBC there is a rule in place (at least last time I checked) that WBC competitors cannot be judges, and if they are there is a 24 month waiting period before they can compete again. James
I had a very similar experience some years ago when I went from competing to judging… and now when i do training of judges i always remind them of how important their job is, in terms of the level of responsibility involved in assessing, judging and commenting on their peers. It is a great pressure from my experience to cast judgement with a 4, 5 or 6 on barista after barista with the level of passion that is clearly evident.

I would encourage as many competitors as possible to get involved in judging as I think it makes you a better competitor (and a better judge if you’ve had a go at competing). Unfortunately, at the WBC there is a rule in place (at least last time I checked) that WBC competitors cannot be judges, and if they are there is a 24 month waiting period before they can compete again.

]]> By: Kiril http://www.jimseven.com/2007/09/19/the-other-side-of-the-table/#comment-68098 Kiril Wed, 19 Sep 2007 20:36:02 +0000 http://www.jimseven.com/2007/09/19/the-other-side-of-the-table/#comment-68098 great post jim! wish u all the best at the judging table :) though i dont know what it feels like behind that table, i hope to find out one day and reflect back on your first thought! happy travels :) great post jim! wish u all the best at the judging table :) though i dont know what it feels like behind that table, i hope to find out one day and reflect back on your first thought! happy travels
:)

]]> By: Ian Clark http://www.jimseven.com/2007/09/19/the-other-side-of-the-table/#comment-68097 Ian Clark Wed, 19 Sep 2007 20:36:00 +0000 http://www.jimseven.com/2007/09/19/the-other-side-of-the-table/#comment-68097 Interesting... reading of the judge's perspective makes me rethink the attraction of more lively music in competitions. Although it may make things more interesting for the audience, anything 'catchy' might make the judges' already difficult jobs unnecessarily more difficult. I guess ambient jazz is here to stay. Interesting… reading of the judge’s perspective makes me rethink the attraction of more lively music in competitions. Although it may make things more interesting for the audience, anything ‘catchy’ might make the judges’ already difficult jobs unnecessarily more difficult.

I guess ambient jazz is here to stay.

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