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Breaking News...Western Regional Barista Champion Announced
(click here for more information)
For Immediate Release
Canadian Barista & Coffee Academy
Presents Western Region Canadian Barista Competition
July 4, 2007 -- The Canadian Barista & Coffee Academy will present the Canadian Western Regional Barista Competition and Training Workshops on August 14-15, 2007 at Heritage Hall in Vancouver, BC. The event celebrates the skills of the barista; the consummate artist of the espresso machine. Some of Canada’s top “espresso bartenders” will compete for the regional title and a spot in the finals at the National Barista Championships to be held in Toronto in September.
The competition features baristi preparing a series of espresso based beverages in a very tight window of time for a discerning panel of official coffee judges. Judges rate the competitors on taste, design, speed, showmanship and creativity.
The Canadian Barista Academy will also offer hand-on training for those new to the industry or those who want to perfect their skills. Workshops offered include: Barista Basics & Espresso Training and Advanced Barista Training & Latte Art. A cupping workshop will also be offered. The training takes place on August 14, followed by the Western Regional Competition on August 15.
As the premier regional event in Canada, organizers are encouraging baristi from cafes and restaurants to sign up. The competition is open to both novices and seasoned operators alike, and some fabulous prizes are available to be won. The competition is open to the public and will run from 12 p.m. – 6 p.m. at Heritage Hall in Vancouver. It will feature a coffee and tea fair with table top displays where visitors can see and sample new products from the event’s sponsors. Proceeds from coffee sales will go to the Coffee Kids charity helping children and their families in coffee growing countries improve their quality of life. The event is open to the public. Doors open at noon.
For information call: 416 784-5210
Or please visit our website www.canadianbaristaacademy.com
The Western Regional Canadian Barista Championship sponsors are ECM, Nuova Simonelli espresso machines and Mahlkonig Canada
Other sponsorship opportunities are still available. Call today.
Click to download Western Regional press release (PDF)
Winners Announced for the third Annual Canadian Eastern Regional Barista Competition
The battle for the Best Barista in the East has been determined at the third annual Eastern Region Canadian Barista Championship held on April 14, 2007 at Steam Whistle Brewery in Toronto. Women took the top three spots, as best baristas (espresso bar tenders) in a profession traditionally limited to men in Italy.
Kim Staveley, from Matter of Taste in Kitchener was the first woman to win a barista competition in Canada. Co-owner of Matter of Taste, Dawn Tran placed second. Both were trained by co-owner Phong Tran who had placed second in last year’s competition.
“This event was met with enthusiastic competitors and provided the audience with an opportunity to learn about the high level of skill it takes to make a proper espresso beverage,” says event organizer, Vida Radovanovic, president of the Canadian Barista & Coffee Academy.
This year’s regional judges included Toronto famed chef and restaurateur Chris McDonald of Cava restaurant, named best restaurant in Toronto this year by Toronto Life magazine and Wanda Beaver, president of Wanda’s Pie in the Sky, a supplier of desserts and pies to many cafes and restaurants in the city.
Tied for third place was Yvonne Ramirez of Dolce Gelato & Café on College Street in Toronto who created a signature beverage using gelato and Cathy So of Avenue Café & Bistro, a popular and café on University Avenue in Toronto.
The winner of the regional competition has secured a spot in the finals rounds of the Canadian National Barista Championship to be held September 16-17, 2007 at the Toronto Congress Centre. The competition is open to both novices and seasoned operators alike, and some fabulous prizes are available to be won – including the winner’s trip to the 2008 World Barista Championship. The 2007 World Championship will take place in Tokyo, Japan and Canada will be represented by our current national champion, Colter Jones of Caffe Artigiano in Vancouver.
The regional competitions were organized by the Canadian Barista & Coffee Academy which also offers hands-on Barista Basics & Espresso Training and Advanced Barista Training & Latte Art and Barista Jams in Toronto, Vancouver and Montreal. The Academy will be presenting a Western Regional competition in August and offering more barista training classes at the Western event and in September in Toronto.
Donations at the event went to the Coffee Kids charity helping children & their families in coffee producing regions to improve the quality of their lives
2007 Eastern Regional Barista Championship Competitors and their scores and rankings:
- Kimberly Stavely, Matter of Taste, Kitchener Score: 570.5
- Dawn Tran, Matter of Taste, Kitchener 540.5
- Ivonne Ramirez, Dolce Gelato & Café, Toronto (tied for 3rd) 516.5
- Cathy So, Avenue Café & Bistro, Toronto (Tied) 516.5
- Matthew Taylor, Mercury Organic Espresso Bar 509
- Samuel James, Cherry Bomb Coffee, Toronto 452
- Chris Tellez, Espresso Post, Collingwood 444
- Alex Tran, Mercury Espresso Bar, Toronto 434
- Michael Empacher, F’Coffee, Toronto 338
- Elias Vastas, Ce Organics, Toronto 313.5
- Chris Wilson, Journo, Toronto 161.5
- Mathew Lee, Manic Coffee, Toronto (Overtime)
2007 Eastern Regional Winners Profiles click here
Head Judge & Sensory Judge: Aaron Delazzer – Director of Coffee, Ethical Bean Coffee Roasters, Vancouver , BC
Technical Judges:
Les Kuan – Trainer, Canadian Barista & Coffee Academy / Technical Director, Canadian National Barista Championship, Vancouver , BC
Michael Riesberry – Café Consultant, Zuccarini Importing Company, Toronto
Bill Herne – Coffee Consulting Specialists, Toronto
Krys Hines – Coffee Consultant, Toronto
Drew DeGeer – Senior Sales & Marketing Manager, Ce Organics
Sensory Judges:
Chris McDonald – Owner, chef of Cava Restaurant in Toronto
Wanda Beaver – President & Director of Product Development, Wanda’s Pie in the Sky, Toronto / Partner with Dinah Koo, Wanda’s in the Kitchen with Dinah. Cookbook author.
Sal Costanzo – President, Patera Marketing in Toronto
Sevan Istanboulian – President, Roaster - Café Mystique / Toi et Moi Cafe in Montreal
Baron Drobig – Malkhonig Canada
Master of Ceremonies: Edward Graham - Sales and Marketing Consultant for Zuccarini Importing
2007 Eastern Regional Judges Profiles click here
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