Comments on: Video 12 – Barista Competitions (I’m back!) http://www.jimseven.com/2009/08/02/video-12-barista-competitions-im-back/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=video-12-barista-competitions-im-back James Hoffmann's blog. Thu, 29 Jul 2010 14:10:57 +0000 hourly 1 By: Denise http://www.jimseven.com/2009/08/02/video-12-barista-competitions-im-back/#comment-97304 Denise Wed, 02 Sep 2009 20:31:54 +0000 http://www.jimseven.com/?p=1043#comment-97304 Competition of all types is about a performance. Coming from a performance background I know how much practice it takes to perform the most basic things that you do day to day which become so much more difficult in fromt of an audience. To be out of your comfort zone is truely hard. I developed techniques over the years for auditions and performing that do help. The best performances come from a balance of practice, fear and excitment. I'm sure your UBF will help, putting the fun into competition and helping people get used to being out there in front of there audience. Competition of all types is about a performance. Coming from a performance background I know how much practice it takes to perform the most basic things that you do day to day which become so much more difficult in fromt of an audience. To be out of your comfort zone is truely hard. I developed techniques over the years for auditions and performing that do help. The best performances come from a balance of practice, fear and excitment. I'm sure your UBF will help, putting the fun into competition and helping people get used to being out there in front of there audience.

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]]> By: Jesse Bladyka http://www.jimseven.com/2009/08/02/video-12-barista-competitions-im-back/#comment-97303 Jesse Bladyka Wed, 02 Sep 2009 14:29:43 +0000 http://www.jimseven.com/?p=1043#comment-97303 I was thinking about this the other day. I think it would be a lot of fun to involve the audience in something like this. Say the first 25 audience members get to choose a drink from a traditional espresso menu, the barista teams have to prepare and deliver the 25 drinks, are judged on time, station maintenance and then the audience members get to choose the better drink between teams. I mean really, a great barista is only as good as their bar-back, right? I was thinking about this the other day. I think it would be a lot of fun to involve the audience in something like this. Say the first 25 audience members get to choose a drink from a traditional espresso menu, the barista teams have to prepare and deliver the 25 drinks, are judged on time, station maintenance and then the audience members get to choose the better drink between teams. I mean really, a great barista is only as good as their bar-back, right?

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]]> By: Marianne Tolosa http://www.jimseven.com/2009/08/02/video-12-barista-competitions-im-back/#comment-97297 Marianne Tolosa Mon, 31 Aug 2009 12:46:25 +0000 http://www.jimseven.com/?p=1043#comment-97297 note: that first line is supposed to read "my FAVORITE in-house competition". note: that first line is supposed to read "my FAVORITE in-house competition".

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]]> By: Marianne Tolosa http://www.jimseven.com/2009/08/02/video-12-barista-competitions-im-back/#comment-97296 Marianne Tolosa Mon, 31 Aug 2009 12:45:31 +0000 http://www.jimseven.com/?p=1043#comment-97296 My in-house competition we had at murky - and by far the most fun I've ever had competing, was this: Baristas were paired off by drawing names out of a hat. A list of drinks and tasks was created by the judges (in this case Katie Carguilo and Ryan Goodrow). These included everyday things a barista would have to do on shift, and was not shared with the competitors before hand. Each task was then handed to the team one at a time, as they completed the previous task, and the teams who hadn’t competed yet hid in a room so they couldn’t hear what was going on. Ultimately, the duo to perform all of the tasks most quickly, with the fewest faults, won. So basically you get up there, and Katie starts yelling things like “make a small latte with an extra shot!”, “Single espresso”, “Medium Cappuccino”, and “you ran out of mocha! Go make a batch!”, while Ryan is timing shots, judging your drinks, and eying your milk waste, and you’re frantically trying to figure out where the bottles are to pour the mocha into. Fast paced, under pressure, and completely ridiculous. It was wonderful. My in-house competition we had at murky – and by far the most fun I've ever had competing, was this:

Baristas were paired off by drawing names out of a hat. A list of drinks and tasks was created by the judges (in this case Katie Carguilo and Ryan Goodrow). These included everyday things a barista would have to do on shift, and was not shared with the competitors before hand. Each task was then handed to the team one at a time, as they completed the previous task, and the teams who hadn’t competed yet hid in a room so they couldn’t hear what was going on. Ultimately, the duo to perform all of the tasks most quickly, with the fewest faults, won.

So basically you get up there, and Katie starts yelling things like “make a small latte with an extra shot!”, “Single espresso”, “Medium Cappuccino”, and “you ran out of mocha! Go make a batch!”, while Ryan is timing shots, judging your drinks, and eying your milk waste, and you’re frantically trying to figure out where the bottles are to pour the mocha into. Fast paced, under pressure, and completely ridiculous. It was wonderful.

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]]> By: jimseven http://www.jimseven.com/2009/08/02/video-12-barista-competitions-im-back/#comment-97278 jimseven Fri, 28 Aug 2009 23:06:17 +0000 http://www.jimseven.com/?p=1043#comment-97278 The rules are posted up before each event. They are usually really, really simple - hopefully they will stay that way! The rules are posted up before each event. They are usually really, really simple – hopefully they will stay that way!

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]]> By: Sarah Allen http://www.jimseven.com/2009/08/02/video-12-barista-competitions-im-back/#comment-97275 Sarah Allen Thu, 27 Aug 2009 17:56:51 +0000 http://www.jimseven.com/?p=1043#comment-97275 So it sounds sort of like some of the Nordic Cup events...? Fun and serious, and all together to promote excellence and enthusiasm? I love the challenge where baristas are presented with a strange ingredient and have to use it in a sig drink. Conversely, if they're given a certain coffee, and have to detect the profile characteristics, and choose from an array of ingredients what might best complement it... Glad you're back, James! So it sounds sort of like some of the Nordic Cup events…? Fun and serious, and all together to promote excellence and enthusiasm? I love the challenge where baristas are presented with a strange ingredient and have to use it in a sig drink. Conversely, if they’re given a certain coffee, and have to detect the profile characteristics, and choose from an array of ingredients what might best complement it…

Glad you’re back, James!

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]]> By: Christine http://www.jimseven.com/2009/08/02/video-12-barista-competitions-im-back/#comment-97255 Christine Thu, 20 Aug 2009 15:24:05 +0000 http://www.jimseven.com/?p=1043#comment-97255 I agree that there is a need for more regular competitions for the purpose of practicing and preparation. I am a musician, and practicing to master a piece and practicing to perform it are two different things. Performing in any field, as in music, requires a unique mindset. I agree that there is a need for more regular competitions for the purpose of practicing and preparation. I am a musician, and practicing to master a piece and practicing to perform it are two different things. Performing in any field, as in music, requires a unique mindset.

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]]> By: Josh http://www.jimseven.com/2009/08/02/video-12-barista-competitions-im-back/#comment-97110 Josh Tue, 04 Aug 2009 09:31:18 +0000 http://www.jimseven.com/?p=1043#comment-97110 do you have the rules for the UBF somewhere? do you have the rules for the UBF somewhere?

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]]> By: chris demarse http://www.jimseven.com/2009/08/02/video-12-barista-competitions-im-back/#comment-97105 chris demarse Tue, 04 Aug 2009 02:58:06 +0000 http://www.jimseven.com/?p=1043#comment-97105 Best shot/ best brew comps would be awesome. I love throwdowns, but art seems to be just the icing on a big cake that is coffee. I'd love to see a group have the same coffee to work with and compete to see who's extraction skills are tops. That, or spin a barista in a circle with a portafilter in hand and have them try to find the machine and lock the pf in the shortest amount of time. ha! Best shot/ best brew comps would be awesome. I love throwdowns, but art seems to be just the icing on a big cake that is coffee. I’d love to see a group have the same coffee to work with and compete to see who’s extraction skills are tops. That, or spin a barista in a circle with a portafilter in hand and have them try to find the machine and lock the pf in the shortest amount of time. ha!

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]]> By: Hunt Slade http://www.jimseven.com/2009/08/02/video-12-barista-competitions-im-back/#comment-97103 Hunt Slade Mon, 03 Aug 2009 19:41:29 +0000 http://www.jimseven.com/?p=1043#comment-97103 Glad to see you back, James. Our bucket of contentious coffee conversation has been sadly empty-ish in your absence. Glad to see you back, James. Our bucket of contentious coffee conversation has been sadly empty-ish in your absence.

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