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Bruised Reg

I think I’ve been in a bit of a bubble. I say this because I’ve recently discovered the true joy of a simple piece of equipment that many, many baristas have been using for a very long time, and I failed to pay much attention to, or take the opportunity to try myself until very recently.
Don’t […]

One Brit + One Norwegian + One Irishman = One Square Mile

It was really fun having James and Anette and Stephen in Portland during their rock star tour of West Coast coffee scenes earlier this summer. Here we all are hanging with Michael Brooks at the Mississippi Street Fresh Pot (yes, the one where they filmed that movie that’s coming out in September):

Anyway, so we’re working […]

A Question of Priorities

So I’ve been back from Tokyo for 48 hours or so now, and in that span of time I’ve enjoyed a lovely pot of Stumptown’s new Hondouran Finca El Puente Matilda, a Tanzanian from Batdorf, and the ultimate decadence of a Stumptown’s Panama Esmeralda Especial. I greatly enjoyed the brews served up on the Clover […]

Kompai! - WBC Tokyo Shout Outs (Updated)

The little guys pictured about are Jizo, the Japanese patron saint of children and travelers, and as all the people who made the 2007 WBC such a success head home, we wish them all safe journeys.
Of course the fact that this WBC was such resounding success was no accident. It was dependent on the tireless […]

James Hoffmann, World Barista Champion

James Hoffmann, the barista champion of the United Kingdom, is now the barista champion of the world. James is a terrific person, a great barista and will surely be a wonderful ambassador for specialty coffee and of the barista profession to the world.

He replaces Klaus Thomsen in the role, and since Klaus did such an […]

WBC Day 3 - The Finals

Well it’s no surprise by now, the day after the WBC came to a close, who won. But it may be a surprise for those of you who weren’t able to be here in Tokyo to see just what happened yesterday at 10:30 am.
First let me set this up for you this way, the Tokyo […]

More photos from the WBC are on their way!

Ken is getting his beauty sleep right now, after a late night partying with this guy:

That’s the very handsome and amazing Luis from the Salvadoran coffee council, by the way. Luis is one of the biggest advocates of the barista craft, involving his organization through sponsorship in the Nordic Barista Cup, the WBC, zacharyzachary, and […]

It’s Hoffmannia!!!

James Hoffmann, the barista champion of the United Kingdom, claimed the World Barista Championship in Tokyo today!
Congratulations, James!
James edged out American barista champion Heather Perry for the title, while New Zealand’s Carl Sara placed third.
Fourth went to the home country competitor, Miyuki Miyamae, of Japan.
Swiss competitor, finished in fifth place, and the first-ever finalist from […]

2007 WBC Finalists

Wow! One way or another, the barista world will not be the same after tomorrow.
This year’s finalists are Heather Perry from the United States, James Hoffmann of the United Kingdom, Silvia Magalhaes from Brazil, New Zealand’s Carl Sara, Anna Kaepelli from Switzerland, and Miyuki Miyamae from Japan.
Four of the six finalists are women, and none […]

Day 2 - Competitors 40-45

German barista champion, Matthias Lincke, overcame technical difficulties (the water hose for the espresso machine became disconnected) and a restart of his routine to deliver a fine performance. He was the only competitor I noticed that did not use the new rule allowing baristas to set the judges’ table during their prep time. Instead he […]