Durham, NC, (August 7, 2006) The Specialty Coffee Association of America (SCAA) presents the 4th Annual Southeast Regional Barista Competition, hosted by Counter Culture Coffee and PlayMakers Repertory Company, September 22-24, in the Center for Dramatic Arts on the campus of the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. Attracting baristas from 10 Southeastern states, the event will showcase a unique competition of creative skill, culinary artistry, and unsurpassed espresso service. Each exciting 15-minute elimination round requires competitors to prepare one espresso, one cappuccino, and one original signature drink for each of four taste judges.

The stakes are high! The eventual Southeast Regional Barista Champion will earn a spot and first round bye in the 2007 U.S. Barista Championship (USBC), where star baristas from across the country will vie for the national title and chance to compete on the grand stage of next year's World Barista Championship. To sweeten the pot, Counter Culture will cover 100% of travel and accommodation expenses for the SERBC winner's trip to the USBC in April 2007, held in conjunction with the SCAA Annual Conference and Exhibition in Long Beach, CA.

Among the fastest growing culinary competitions in the nation, the SERBC features some of the most accomplished and skilled beverage professionals in the United States. The SERBC is open to baristas living in North Carolina, South Carolina, Virginia, West Virginia, Georgia, Tennessee, Mississippi, Alabama, Kentucky, and Florida. Only two competitors per coffeehouse may participate. Interested baristas should visit www.scaa.org for registration information. Thanks to the generous support of sponsors, the even is FREE and open to the public. Those interested in volunteering for the event should contact Cindy Chang at cindy@counterculturecoffee.com.

The United States Barista Championship (USBC) Committee sanctions this competition.

Event co-host Playmakers Repertory Company is the professional acting company of the Center for Dramatic Arts, and the premier theatre company of the Carolinas.

Founded in 1995, Durham, NC-based Counter Culture Coffee pursues excellence in coffee with a consuming passion. The company specializes in roasting premium specialty coffees for high-end restaurants, gourmet stores, coffee shops, groceries, and consumers with discerning tastes. In March 2005, Counter Culture Coffee was named one of the top three boutique roasters in the United States by Food & Wine magazine, and was named ROAST magazine's Roaster of the Year in 2004. For more information or to order coffee, please visit www.counterculturecoffee.com.