By Nicolas Lawson – Quality Control Supervisor at Mr. Espresso
There were forty-eight competitors total at the Big Western Barista Championships, a regional competition held in Los Angeles for the top barista competitors in the west coast. Twenty one were fighting for the title of North West Champion and twenty seven were battling it out for the coveted title of South West Barista Champion, a region that is widely considered to be the most competitive in the nation. Baristas came from as far as Alaska and Hawaii to test out their espresso skills in the ring of fire.
The competition was held in the up and coming Arts District of L.A. Less than two blocks away from Handsome Coffee Roasters. The event was split between two rooms. The smaller side room held the competitor preparation tables and the Brewer’s Cup Competition. The main room held the Barista Competition. Approximately 400 guests filled the industrial style Lot 613 to watch the spectacle.
The weather was hot and typical of Southern California. The temperature on stage was magnified by body heat and a skylight placed directly over head. There were 3 competitor stations set side by side with the audience in full view. There was even a balcony with a lounge area if you wanted to brave the heat.
I was the 8th competitor to showcase their coffee on the first day of competition. My coffee of choice was a Guatemalan Guaya’b Associacion Civil with chewy, chocolaty body, strawberry jamminess, and notes of mulled red wine cider and hibiscus. The judges’ stares were penetrating and the crowd was supportive. It made for an awkward balance. I performed the routine as practiced a thousand times over with little variance other than a slight hitch towards the end. It was exhilarating.
The training that it took to arrive there was what meant the most to me. Through dedicated research and study I was able to become a more knowledgeable professional on the topic of Guatemalan coffee. From growing practices and processing methods to roasting and extraction, this was a definitive learning experience in my career. I was able to present a wonderful coffee at the event and that is exactly what I had set out to do, and it was a privilege to share the stage with so many talented baristas. At the end we were able to exchange our coffees with one another and that is what makes the community so wonderful. I look forward to the next time.