Posted Fri Apr 23, 2004, 7:52pm Subject: Re: Day 0 from SCAA 2004 Atlanta, Road Reports
Go, Mark, Go!!!
Thanks for the effort.
I would love to see some pictures of any new or updated prosumer machines.
I will be upgrading within 6 months, so any new items should hit the vendors by then. It would be great to know what options we have to look forward to.
Drumlin72 Senior Member Joined: 16 Nov 2003 Posts: 49 Location: Kansas City, MO Expertise: Just starting
Posted Fri Apr 23, 2004, 9:00pm Subject: Re: Day 0 from SCAA 2004 Atlanta, Road Reports
So.....any news yet? Is the first round done? Are the semifinals tommorrow? Who made it. I know those guys are stressed and hard at work, but ask them to post please. The rest of us that weren't able to go are going crazy wanting info :)
I am on the edge of my seat..... 'srdy9 n8rmtgSRTyh DH}GMN" ksja Z...ooops, I fell off.
xristrettox Senior Member Joined: 22 Jan 2003 Posts: 278 Location: Portland Expertise: Just starting
Posted Fri Apr 23, 2004, 10:36pm Subject: Re: Day 0 from SCAA 2004 Atlanta, Road Reports
Hey all,
How's my online family doing? Well, what a crazy day today. I competed fourth in line, of about 18 competitors. Before me were Dismas Smith and Sandy Hon (as far as the ones that I know....i.e. dangerous) After me Phuong Tran, Bronwen Serna and some other good baristi competed.
As for my comp. well... I screwed up on my prep time. I didn't get everything done that I wanted to. My station wasn't as clean as it needed to be at my compeition start time. I got nailed there.
When it comes to my espresso, capps and signature drink... I believe that I nailed them. My presentation was on, and I did my best to share my passion for specialty coffee.
Things are tough though. My signature drink will not get scored well because it is JUST a single origin espresso served straight up. I knew that I would not score well in this area, but I had to do this drink. I needed to represent what specialty coffee is all about, and that is coffee. Specifically the farms. All the hard work and the poverty that goes on in coffee producing nations is enough to make me cry, and I just wanted their voices to be heard.
If I don't make it to the semi-finals because of it... fine. I came and did what my heart said to do, and if it has inspired anybody to help out those that work so hard to produce coffee, then it was worth it. I guess when it comes down to it, I feel that helping the farms is worth more to me than winning an award.
cheapdialogue Senior Member Joined: 25 Mar 2002 Posts: 156 Location: Bellingham, WA Expertise: Professional
Espresso: Marzocco Linea 3AV Grinder: Espresso- Mazzer, Drip-Bunn Vac Pot: I can still dream... Drip: Curtis APS Roaster: Dreaming of a Probat
Posted Sat Apr 24, 2004, 1:57am Subject: Re: Day 0 from SCAA 2004 Atlanta, Road Reports
xristrettox Said:
Hey all,
Things are tough though. My signature drink will not get scored well because it is JUST a single origin espresso served straight up. I knew that I would not score well in this area, but I had to do this drink. I needed to represent what specialty coffee is all about, and that is coffee. Specifically the farms. All the hard work and the poverty that goes on in coffee producing nations is enough to make me cry, and I just wanted their voices to be heard.
If I don't make it to the semi-finals because of it... fine. I came and did what my heart said to do, and if it has inspired anybody to help out those that work so hard to produce coffee, then it was worth it. I guess when it comes down to it, I feel that helping the farms is worth more to me than winning an award.
Much respect to you for that move with the single origin signature drink, Billy. I've often wished someone would do that. I think that you are a pioneer and a trendsetter in doing what you did. Kudos to ya.
Judges are supposed to keep a stone face up there while judging - you know, impartial, poker face, smile at the Baristi but register nothing when drinking. You don't want to throw the Barista for a curve if you wince when drinking their drink, and conversely, you don't want to throw off other Baristi who may be watching (and competiting later) if you jump for joy over a drink.
Last year, two mistakes were made in Boston at the USBC in my flight.
- our flight was scheduled to do 11 (I remembered it as 12, but was recently corrected - it was 11) competitors (33 drinks in total)
- competitor 8 or 9 served up a drink that was probably well explained, but somehow I missed the explanation (as did John Hornall, a fellow tasting judge in that flight).
By the 8th or 9th competitor, I was pretty much toast. That's a lot of espresso in a short time. But I was determined to move on and finish the flight of 11. The sig drink for that particular competitor kind of ruined it for me though... because it had a large amount of cayenne pepper in it and I didn't clue in. I smelled it in the drink, but didn't clue in. We asked for instructions how to drink this 3 item sig drink (lime or lemon slice, shooter glass with the drink, and a shot glass with whipped cream). "suck the lime (or lemon, can't remember), toss back the sig drink, then lick the whipped cream. Okay...
So John and I both did this (the other two taste judges hesitated and didn't). As soon as all that cayenne hit my mouth, my eyes popped, and I reacted visibly. So did Hornall. I couldn't help the facial expressions. I also couldn't find any water.
Sherri Johns, my flight judging captain, came over, visibly upset, and admonished us. I just wanted water at that point. And my palate was completely toasted.
The thing is, in retrospect, the drink was intriguing and I would even say good. In fact, I'd love to find the competitor and get the recipe to try it again... but this time, I'd be prepared in advance for it. But I had to bow out after the 10th competitor because I wasn't able to taste anything much any more. I drank about 2 litres of water to try and clense. Ate soda crackers. Had carbonated water. Even had some shots pulled from the "setup machines". Nothing. Ruined. :)
But I learned from it. I'm pretty sure if the same thing had happened in this year's USBC. I'd be able to keep a lid on things and remain stone faced. I'm glad though I didn't have to test it out. :)
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