Ever get bummed out because many baristas can't afford to go to origin? Although it's not quite going to origin, if you come to the Third Annual Mid Atlantic/Northeast Barista Jam, being held June 23-25th in Easton, PA, you will have the opportunity to meet and share insights with one of the most progressive coffee farmers in the world, Oswaldo Acevedo of Finc El Roble, Mesa de los Santos, Colombia. In addition, you will get to learn barista techniques from the likes of Ellie Matuszak (Coffee Solutions), Jay Caragay ('Spro Coffee), and Mike Love (Coffee Labs). If thats not enough, be inspired by Mark Inman (Taylor Maid) and learn about how coffee gets from the trees to the grinder from Rob Stephen (Coffee Solutions), Jaime Schoenhut (Royal Coffee NY), and Rik Kleinfeldt (New Harvest Coffee Roasters). Oh also...Barista Party, Latte Art Throwdown, Espresso Extraction Smackdown...and we give some cash to Grounds for Health. In between all that we'll jam on four Nuova Simonelli Aurelias. This can all be had for the barista bailout, stimulus price of $60. Seriously, it's alot of fun, hope y'all (is that spelled corrwctly Jason?) can make it!
Well, Spring's here, Summer's on it's bright and bubbly way, and we at the Barista Guild are hard at work at creating the Barista Guild we've all been craving! Yeah, you've seen many changes that have left you scratching your head thinking, "Is this the same BGA as year's past? Surely not. Surely some alien ship landed and dropped off a new BGA!" Well, I haven't seen any aliens, don't remember any probing, but I can say that there is a new fire under all our butts in the BGA EC to create the Barista Guild we've all talked about for so many years, and are putting actions to words.
I renewed recently during our awesome free renewal promotion, and just the other day (less than a few weeks after I renewed) received my new handy dandy BGA membership card, with a new revised packet that's lost alot of weight. Why? Well, in an effort to save trees and paper, we've eliminated alot of the information that most of you probably threw away once you read it, and are giving it to you in PDF format, so you can print it if you want. But fear not, in the packet you still find the same information you need to be in on the happs of the BGA, including your discounts, Executive Council members, as well as your regional chapter reps. And trust me when I say that your regional chapter reps are itching at the bits to work to make the BGA amazing in your region, so if you can think of a way you can help, or have suggestions or questions, please contact them ASAP! We all work for you!
There is a renewed sense of excitement, and vision, and we realize there's much work left to do. The fact we have a real website, online registration and renewal, timely membership benefit packets sent out, and a new logo and shirt design to be unveiled is a huge leap from where we were a year ago, but is still only a hint of what's to come. So, what's to come, you ask? Well, Scott Lucey's cooking up a city vs. city throwdown format that we will take all over the country. The first competition will be Chicago versus Milwaukee, so peeps in those cities, beez getting ready up in here. And I am working on something similar, that will engage even more baristas in smaller cities that have felt like they got overlooked before.
We are super excited to be planning the first ever Barista Camp. Remember camp from when you were younger? Remember cabins, bunk beds, water balloon fights, silly games, and grilled foods? Oh yeah, I do, so imagine us taking where we are now as baristas, and taking over a Summer camp! Espresso machines and latte art throwdowns? Check. Coffee brewing and mini-sessions? Check? Cabins, bunk beds, silly games and grilled foods? Quadruple check! We're gonna rock it like it's 1985 baby! Be on the look out for further details, and if you want to help with the planning of this amazing event, please contact your regional chapter rep!
Also, we are working on several events coming up that will be BGA members only, so you will tell all your fellow baristas the Guild is where it's at. But remember, this is your guild. This guild exists to support, nurture, excite and challenge you, and if there's an area you feel we could work harder at, or include in what we do, let us know. I can't say enough that we work for you, and couldn't exist without you. This is for us, by us. Thanks for your continued support and being a part of such a cool thing at such a great time!
-jason dominy
P.S. I wanna give out a special shout out to Marcus Boni, our SCAA liason, for helping us get alot of the things done we've been able to get done like the website and online registration. His support has been and will be very much appreciated as we continue this ridiculous momentum.
I also want to say thanks so much to outgoing BGA head of the council Bronwen Serna. Her time, thoughts, and dedication are greatly appreciated, and have helped us get where we are now. She has worked hard to hand Heather Perry the reigns over the BGA ship. Thanks B, you rock.
I renewed recently during our awesome free renewal promotion, and just the other day (less than a few weeks after I renewed) received my new handy dandy BGA membership card, with a new revised packet that's lost alot of weight. Why? Well, in an effort to save trees and paper, we've eliminated alot of the information that most of you probably threw away once you read it, and are giving it to you in PDF format, so you can print it if you want. But fear not, in the packet you still find the same information you need to be in on the happs of the BGA, including your discounts, Executive Council members, as well as your regional chapter reps. And trust me when I say that your regional chapter reps are itching at the bits to work to make the BGA amazing in your region, so if you can think of a way you can help, or have suggestions or questions, please contact them ASAP! We all work for you!
There is a renewed sense of excitement, and vision, and we realize there's much work left to do. The fact we have a real website, online registration and renewal, timely membership benefit packets sent out, and a new logo and shirt design to be unveiled is a huge leap from where we were a year ago, but is still only a hint of what's to come. So, what's to come, you ask? Well, Scott Lucey's cooking up a city vs. city throwdown format that we will take all over the country. The first competition will be Chicago versus Milwaukee, so peeps in those cities, beez getting ready up in here. And I am working on something similar, that will engage even more baristas in smaller cities that have felt like they got overlooked before.
We are super excited to be planning the first ever Barista Camp. Remember camp from when you were younger? Remember cabins, bunk beds, water balloon fights, silly games, and grilled foods? Oh yeah, I do, so imagine us taking where we are now as baristas, and taking over a Summer camp! Espresso machines and latte art throwdowns? Check. Coffee brewing and mini-sessions? Check? Cabins, bunk beds, silly games and grilled foods? Quadruple check! We're gonna rock it like it's 1985 baby! Be on the look out for further details, and if you want to help with the planning of this amazing event, please contact your regional chapter rep!
Also, we are working on several events coming up that will be BGA members only, so you will tell all your fellow baristas the Guild is where it's at. But remember, this is your guild. This guild exists to support, nurture, excite and challenge you, and if there's an area you feel we could work harder at, or include in what we do, let us know. I can't say enough that we work for you, and couldn't exist without you. This is for us, by us. Thanks for your continued support and being a part of such a cool thing at such a great time!
-jason dominy
P.S. I wanna give out a special shout out to Marcus Boni, our SCAA liason, for helping us get alot of the things done we've been able to get done like the website and online registration. His support has been and will be very much appreciated as we continue this ridiculous momentum.
I also want to say thanks so much to outgoing BGA head of the council Bronwen Serna. Her time, thoughts, and dedication are greatly appreciated, and have helped us get where we are now. She has worked hard to hand Heather Perry the reigns over the BGA ship. Thanks B, you rock.
Check out photos from SCAA's Exposition in Atlanta, Georgia last month. The BGA successfully launched a certification program for baristas looking to prove their commitment to the craft and get some street cred and recognition for their mad skills. The SCAA offered labs to eager participants from all sectors of the coffee industry, including many courses needed for the BGA Certification such as the BGA Milk and Latte Art class, Introduction to Espresso, Hands-On Espresso and Introduction to Cupping.
Unless you live under a rock, you know that the World Barista Championship was held in conjunction with Expo this year - so you'll want to check out this link for some great photos of the best baristas in the world going head-to-head. Congratulations to Gwilym Davies for winning the title of World Barista Champion. Check out the pics for some nice shots of our own Mike Phillips, who came in third this year. Better luck next year, USA. In 2010 the United States Barista Championship returns to Expo in Anaheim, California!
This is impressive. Tim Wendelboe in Norway proclaims love for Aeropress by getting ready for year two of the one and only world aeropress championship.
More more details, rules, etc... go to Tim Wendelboe's website.
Photo: Bronze Aeropress Trophy stolen from Tim's website by S.Lucey. Sorry Tim.
