Why Should I become a BGA Member?
Featuring: Sarah Dooley
We get this query a lot: "Why should I join the BGA?" It's not a bad question, and is asked in earnest more often than with a sneer. In an effort to shed light on the value of becoming a BGA member we've asked the leadership at the Barista Guild to spend some time crafting responses to this question. We intend to publish one response a week.
Our first response comes to us from Executive Council member Mrs. Sarah Dooley:
Why Should I Become a BGA member?
Why should I not become a BGA member
may be a better way to translate that question. Initially, I was curious
and the minimal annual fee to join ($45) was a painless introduction. The
discount for competition was a no-brainer. Who knew 3 years later it
would be one of the most valuable networks I could belong to in coffee.
There's a dual outcome in my membership value.
The first is that I have made great
connections with all points of the supply chain in coffee. This has
enabled me to get to the "source" of a lot of topics in a way that
usually stopped at my much shorter social network pre-BGA. This includes
solid relationships with SCAA's long list of staff & board of directors,
and that is not a plug for future job hopes people. I have listened in on
some of the best conversations my ears could behold. Some heated debates
and "wow, I never thought about it that way" ah ha moments as well.
The second of that dual value is the
education team. I can honestly say I have done more learning then
contributing to my peers. Access to coursework and details on how to become
a better listener and trainer. The education opportunities to craft and teach
our trade have never been better. Our BGA certifications have a lot of
validity both here in the states and in far off lands like New Zealand,
Australia & more. We have opportunities to build up a fundamental training
language thus elevating the term associated with specialty. To me, that's
exciting!
Now with Camp Pull A Shot I really
found a way to connect all the dots gaining perspective as a peer of the
barista community, a student and an instructor.
Simply put, I have a lot of fun and I
there's always something to learn.
-----
Those are some compelling words. Thank you, Sarah.
Become part of our ever-growing group of dedicated, professional baristas, and don't forget about the opportunity to further your knowledge & skills at our Camp Pull-a-Shot East Coast happening June 4-7.
Hello Campers!
We at the Barista Guild of America are ultra excited about the introduction of Camp Pull-A-Shot East Coast held in scenic Pembroke, VA. Along with intensive barista learning, community building, endless s’mores, and the inevitable dance party, we’re bringing a bevy of team challenges to facilitate fun, camaraderie, and a sense of competitiveness to our camp experience. Camp team challenges yield some unforgettable moments (including some inventive brewing methods and former BGA Executive Council Chair Jason Dominy wearing a banana suit) and the upcoming camp team challenges should be no different.Campers will be split into ten teams design to be equally matched in experience, skill, and knowledge.
Teams will go head-to-head in a series of four challenges throughout the week:This year’s challenges bring back some favorites from previous camps, as well as an entirely new contest designed to stretch the scope of campers’ knowledge and skill.
Opening Night Challenge: The Price Is Right
Our opening night challenge is a Price Is Right-style game show, where teams estimate the price of coffee-related items - from brew ware to roasting equipment, cleaning tools and beyond. How much was that pitcher rinser again? What’s the average price of a gallon of whole milk? Memorizing the current Espresso Parts & Espresso Supply catalogs on the trip to camp might be a sound investment.
Night 2 Challenge: Coffee-Brewing Relay
On the second night, teams will compete in a relay-style coffee brewing competition. Teams will have to complete certain tasks before being allowed access to tools necessary to brew a cup of coffee. Will you be bobbing for apples? Hula-hooping for hot water? The relay legs feature physical challenges which are completely top secret and hidden in a sealed brown envelope. All we can say is: bring your running shoes.
Night 3 Challenge: Seed-to-Cup
Night 3 Challenge: Seed-to-Cup
New to the team challenge line-up: Seed-to-Cup! Tapping into the knowledge and skills learned during the week will be necessary to succeed in our final challenge. Teams must negotiate the purchase of green coffee, roasting, and brewing equipment with a limited amount of camp money. There will be a variety of choices to make regarding each of these steps: teams must weigh the risk versus reward of available items at each step in the chain and then be responsible for purchasing, roasting, brewing and serving their coffee for evaluation to a panel of judges.
Ongoing Challenge: Team Cafes
Ongoing Challenge: Team Cafes
Get your fellow campers caffeinated on some top-notch coffees while working on some the best equipment out there! Impress secret shoppers to gain maximum points for your team. Creativity is encouraged. Baristas are most at home behind the counter, but don’t get too comfortable --- you never know who’s evaluating your coffee, or, how they’re evaluating it!
As you can see, we have quite a full schedule of activities at Camp this summer. The best team overall wins a unique trophy and bragging rights for a year, so get limber and bring the heat.
Camp is nearly sold out: to participate in the learning, skill building, networking experience that is Camp Pull-a-Shot and take a step forward in your path as a professional barista, sign up today.
See you at Camp!
The USBC
Recap by Laila & Colin
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| Laila looking poised. |
This year, coffee people from all over the world flooded my town of Portland, Oregon for the 2012 Specialty Coffee Association of America’s Annual Event. A city billowing with coffee culture, having the expo here was a great fit. No shortage of cafes and roasters, not to mention a decent food and drink scene. All in all, I think the visitors were well taken care of.
The United States Barista Championship was held in conjunction with the SCAA Event. 56 of some of the best barista competitors in the US came out for a chance at the title of USBC. With a nearly a full roster, the competition was steep to say the least.
After taking a year off, Intelligentsia jumped back into the competition scene sending 5 competitors, all finalists in their respective regions. MadCap Coffee had great representation, sending 4 competitors, including two 2011 USBC finalists. Then there was Chris Baca of Verve Coffee Roasters. After placing 2nd in the 2010 USBC, Baca took some time off and decided to jump into the 2012 USBC, even though he didn't compete in his regional which means he was at the very end of the waiting list. Luckily, he was able to squeeze in.
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| From Left to Right, our emotional USBC finalists: Katie, Chris, Devin, Jared, Charles, and Travis |
Baca made it to the finals along with Jared Truby also of Verve, Katie Carguilo of Counter Culture Coffee Roasters, Charles Babinski of Intelligentsia Coffee and Tea, Devin Chapman of Coava Coffee Roasters, and Travis Beckett of Peregrine Espresso. It was an exciting time for us Northwesterners to have Chapman in the finals. Not only because the competition was being held here, but there has not been NW representation in the USBC finals since Billy Wilson in 2006.
In the end it was Katie Carguilo who took the title of US Barista Champion, and will head to the World Barista Competition in Vienna in June. Katie has been competing for six years now -- a self described “every other year” competitor who’s come a long way since her days with Murky Coffee. Her accomplishment is also a win for Counter Culture Coffee, who, despite their reputation for excellence have never had a competitor using their coffee win the USBC. With all the talk of "women in coffee" this year, having a woman USBC champion was literally great timing. The score is now tied with 5 men holding USBC title and 5 women, so the battle can rest, for now.
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| Winning the USBC: pure ecstasy |
The United States Brewers Cup was also an incredibly exciting competition with Andy Sprenger taking home the title for the 2nd year in a row. 2nd and 3rd place were awarded to Jon Ferguson and Dut Goodman. Mike Marquard, Robbie Krask, and Lorenzo Perkins rounded out the finals. Perkins and Marquard are both former US Barista Competition finalists. This crossover from barista to brewers, or even competing in both, is making this fairly new competition even more interesting to watch.
The competitions took place in the Activities Hall at the Oregon Convention Center, along with the wildly successful BGA Café. Volunteers from all over donated their time to serve the large crowds of people. Two espresso machines, manual brewing, a number of different roasters, serving people amazing coffee. This is also where every barista competitor got to serve their own competition espresso after their routine. A great way to allow the audience to engage in the experience. This is a very well received idea and I for one hope we continue with.
- Laila Ghambari
The competitions took place in the Activities Hall at the Oregon Convention Center, along with the wildly successful BGA Café. Volunteers from all over donated their time to serve the large crowds of people. Two espresso machines, manual brewing, a number of different roasters, serving people amazing coffee. This is also where every barista competitor got to serve their own competition espresso after their routine. A great way to allow the audience to engage in the experience. This is a very well received idea and I for one hope we continue with.
- Laila Ghambari
Thanks Laila! This was indeed an extremely competitive year at the USBC. I think it was the most competitive USBC since I started watching in 2008. We should mention all our lovely USBC judges representing the BGA on the other side of the table --- I don’t envy them having to pick apart some hard-wrought and careworn competition routines, but on the other hand, I’m quite jealous of the opportunity to taste some super sweet espresso.
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| Believe it Andy: you just won the US Brewers Cup |
The Activities Hall also housed the US Cup Tasters Championship. We love the Cup Tasters Championship, especially for its real-time results which totally get the crowd involved. Congrats to Steve Bauer of Paragon Coffee Trading Co. who is representing the USA in Vienna next month in the World Cup Tasters Championship.
The BGA also had a presence at the SCAA Event teaching both Level One and Level Two coursework, administering exams, sponsoring our yearly throwdown, and hosting the BGA party.
Thanks again to Laila for calling out the BGA cafe. The addition of a third espresso machine showcasing the USBC competitors and their coffee gave a huge boost of energy to the cafe volunteers who had a chance to pull shots alongside some of the best baristas in the country. As one attendee said, with the addition of the USBC competitors our cafe was, for that weekend, the best cafe in the city -- perhaps the country. A huge compliment, especially considering the city we were in. It was a real pleasure to serve everyone some delicious coffee this year. I believe we can consider this a permanent addition to the BGA cafe.
-Colin
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| Congratulations to our Champions. #Winning |
Thank you to everyone able to join us for the BGA Annual Membership Meeting!
This is the first time we've hosted the meeting via webinar and we think it was a success. For those of you who were not able to join us, the presentation is available to download here (PDF).
We received some great questions from the group during the webinar, in the next few weeks we'll be recapping those questions here with answers from your BGA Leadership and SCAA staff.
In the meantime, if you have any questions about the presentation, drop your Regional Representative or Executive Council member a line!
Join us for the annual BGA Membership Meeting
Thursday, May 10th, 3pm PST / 6pm EST
Your BGA leadership will recap the past year and update you on the year ahead. We'll chat about membership, member-driven events, Camp Pull-A-Shot, and open the floor for your feedback, too.
