Here’s a curated selections of our favorite tweets from throughout the Day Two of the Big Central Regional Barista Competition,  sourced via the @SprudgeLive Twitter feed. Sprudge coverage from BCRBC made possible by direct support from Kaldi’s Coffee, PT’s Coffee, and Nuova Simonelli.

Sprudge.com’s original photography at Big Central Regionals is shot by Charlie Burt – he’s on Twitter as @Tiger_Friend

27. Josh Taves, Dogwood Coffee Co., MPLS

9:57 mr. taves takes his judges on “a journey below the surface of a cafe” – science-focused, molecules etc

10:00 sig drink: soluble solids via espresso- espresso, cacao, dark brown sugar, olive oil infused w/ cascara

10:04 in an absence of MCs helping him out, Mr. Taves invites the crowd to “let’s hear it for my espressos”

10:12 mr. taves calls time at 15:02 – kind of a head-turning amount of chemistry and science in that routine

28. Tyler Hawks, Velvet Espresso Bar, NOLA

10:17 mr. hawks is originally from Wisconsin – he’s been with Velvet Espresso for just around a year

10:19 your Sprudge editors visited Velvet Espresso and the #NOLA coffee scene in May 2011 – read more

10:22 velvet espresso is a gem of a multiroaster on magazine street in #NOLA – serving @intelligentsia @stumptowncoffee & more

29. Wolfgang Schaefer, Alterra Coffee Roasters, Milwaukee

10:31 “if i don’t make it through this…my mother will disown me…i’ll have to sleep in my car…again…” @heywolfgang to the judges

10:38 “if life hands you a lemon, just shut up and eat the stupid lemon.” – @heywolfgang‘s grandma. “she was a pretty sour lady.”

10:44 peaches, lemons, honey, cinnamon – calcium salt, sodium algenate to create “crazy gooballs”, or spherification.

10:45 “when i think of spherification, i think of Bowie, and the journeys he must have gone on in his mind.”

30. Tyler Rovenstine, Oddly Correct Coffee, KCMO

10:50 the crowd have cardboard cutouts of @trovenstine‘s face. this is a real thing that’s happening. #bcrbc day 2 is a weird scene man

10:52 Mr. Rovenstine competes using a washed bourbon, 36 hour ferment, 12 day dry Guatemala Antigua, sourced by @pcristiani of @CafeImports

10:54 both the coffee and the cafe experience at @oddlycorrect are exceptional. they’re one of the best small roasters in the USA IMHO

11:04 last drinks down at 14:40, time to clean & thank judges – @trovenstine calls time at 15:04 in an observationally flawless routine

31. Miranda Johnson, MadCap Coffee Co., Grand Rapids

11:11 @mirandroid competes using a colombia huila microlot espresso roasted by @MadCapCoffee and not currently available to the public

11:16 “it just so happens i brought my map of michigan here with me today” – points to her right hand (see above photo)

11:18 “the drying process is like cooking a good brisket. when it’s done low and slow, it gives the coffee time to develop.”

32. Reagan Petrehn, Parisi Coffee, KCMO

11:40 “sweet caramel, brown sugar, and a milk chocolate throughout the cup” – mr. petrehn on his @ParisiCoffee cappuccinos

11:41 mr. petrehn of @parisicoffee kind of looks like a young missouri version of @jimseven

11:46 mr. petrehn’s sig drink: goat’s milk, dark chocolate, sugar spheres filled w/ honey, blood orange & rosemary, espresso

11:48 mr. petrehn calls time at 15:11 – technically proficient run with a lot of heart, big cheer from the @parisicoffee crowd as he exits

33. Katerina Babinski, Independent, Chicago

11:50 ms. babinksi is the sister of longtime barista comp stalwart @charlesbabinski – last year’s 2nd place finisher in the USBC

11:52 “i’m not a barista in the traditional sense, i’m a customer. most customers assume baristas have superpowers…”

11:55 ms. babinski serving Colombia Didier Reinoso from @MadCapCoffee learn more and bring some home

12:00 “getting to use an espresso machine is totally as cool as it looks.” -this is such a charming routine, really personal & fun

34. Tamara Muro, Velvet Espresso Bar, NOLA

12:09 Tamara owns Velvet Espresso, the best cafe in New Orleans, but that’s just one small part of the story…

12:10 Tamara Muro is a lifelong contributor to some of Hollywood’s most famous films. she grew up in the film industry…her husband is J. Michael Muro, who’s worked as a steadicam operator on Titanic, Casino, Clueless, and dozens of other classic films. Her father was Assistant Director on “The Graduate”.

12:12 here’s J. Michael Muro’s IMDB listing: : http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0614013/

12:14 @throwacupcake competes using @VerveCoffee‘s La Roxanita El Salvador, a honey processed coffee – learn more.

12:20 “the key to honey process y’all, now listen up, is this – you must pick the cherries when they’re ripe.” -tamara muro

35. Scott Lucey, Alterra Coffee Roasters, Milwaukee

12:30 “i want to work with you today as a trainer – i enjoy watching people gain confidence in their taste”

12:37 there’s a specific texas red grapefruit note in @scottlucey‘s espresso, so he serves the judges a slice of texas grapefruit and a slice of regular grapefruit. calibration to display taste specificity

12:41 mr. lucey competes using a bourbon & caturra blend -”Finca La Casias”, producer Nelson Melo, Colombia, sourced & roasted by @AlterraCoffee - coffee is extremely small lot, with brief availability on the menus of @alterracoffee in milwaukee – special stuff

36. Jacqueline Schrader, Greyhouse Coffee, Lafayette, IN

12:49 @thisisjackcafe is the 2nd of 2 competitors from @greyhousecoffee in West Lafayette, a @PTsCoffee account near Purdue University

1:00 ms. schrader’s sig drink is an espresso con panna with molasses, bacon, and maple syrup. #YUM

1:04 ms schrader calls time at 15:28 – congrats to her and @greyhousecoffee for all their work at #bcrbc – a real treat.

37. Charlie Habegger, Intelligentsia Coffee, Chicago

1:11 mr. habegger competes using @Intelligentsia‘s Colombia Amigos de Buesaco - learn & shop

1:12 components for @BrainOfCharlie‘s sig drink are blackberries, lemon gummies, blackberry & juniper, lime, vanilla bean

1:15 @brainofcharlie‘s sig drink: first he pulls shots on top of a blackberry & tarragon jam, then adds 10 grams of vanilla infusion and “the right amount of lime for clarity”

1:25 mr. habegger calls time at 15:10, rounding out a strong showing for @intelligentsia and the city of Chicago

38. Blair Bachman, Victory 44, MPLS

1:27 @victory_44 enjoys a close relationship with @DogwoodCoffee – “we like to pair good foods with good coffee” – an understatement.

1:34 Your Sprudge Editors visited @Victory_44 on a recent trip to MPLS – modern american locavore w/ dope @DogwoodCoffee chemex service.

1:37 mr. bachman’s sig drink – apple pie ice cream affogato, with nutmeg, cinnamon, brown butter, and streusel. dang dude.

1:40 we’ve got liquid nitrogen live on stage people. that standing mixer is bubblin & brewin’ & goin’ buck wild! (see photo above)

39. Jacques DesMarais, Kaldi’s Coffee, St. Louis

1:46 ms. desmarais was a finalist in last year’s South Central region & a semi-finalist at the 2012 USBC

1:47 “balance can be exciting.” – she’ll be making two distinct signature drinks in her routine.

1:50 1st sig drink: maple syrup soda, grenadine, ice, and 4 shots of a @Kaldis_Coffee Colombia Narino espresso

1:54 sig drink 2: dry cherries steeped in water, reduced with brown sugar, topped with @kaldis_coffee monseratte espresso

1:55 “i apologize for not being tall, but i’m going to talk to you over the machine about extraction.” @JacqueDesMarais of @kaldis_coffee

2:03 recapping this remarkable, complex routine: 8 total sig drinks (2 styles, 4 drinks), layered espressos, layered capps, 2 distinct colombian coffees (narino and monseratte)…calls time at 15:03. remarkable.

The post Big Central Regionals Day Two Highlights appeared first on Sprudge.com.

A massive, mind-boggling field of talent representing some of the very best baristas in North America, these 26 baristas competed on Day One of the Big Central Regional Barista Championship. Here’s a curated selections of our favorite tweets from throughout the day, sourced via the @SprudgeLive Twitter feed.

Sprudge coverage from BCRBC made possible by direct support from Kaldi’s Coffee, PT’s Coffee, and Nuova Simonelli.

Sprudge.com’s original photography at Big Central Regionals is shot by Charlie Burt – he’s on Twitter as @Tiger_Friend

1. Katie Meyers, Alterra Coffee Roasters, Milwaukee – North Central Region:

10:16 ms. meyers of @AlterraCoffee competes using Alterra’s Guatemala Hunapu, from the Antigua region – learn more.

10:19 ms. meyers of @AlterraCoffee competes using milk from “sassy cow farms” in wisconsin! sassy cow. sassy cow. sassy cow.

10:28 katie meyers’ sig drink: honey, water, lemon juice & zest, charged with CO2 into a meringue-like foam – add espresso.

10:30 katie meyers of @AlterraCoffee with a poised, pleasant, professional routine here to kick us off at #BCRBC – calls time at 15:48

2. Forrest Wright, PT’s Coffee Roasters, Topeka, KS – South Central Region

10:37 forrest wright of @PTsCoffee at one time worked as a cherry picker in Guatemala in exchange for lodging. that’s wild man.

10:44 nectarine, red grape, “a fine red wine” – forrest wright on his @PTsCoffee Kenya Thiriku espresso

10:48 really involved sig drink from forrest wright of @PTsCoffee – hand whippin’, vac pot bubblin’, hot and cold contrast, sounds delish

10:59 forrest wright is kind of a man of steel up on stage – no shakes, no stutters, no flubs, no wiggles. super polished.

3. Jon Ferguson, Dogwood Coffee Company, MPLS – North Central Region

10:56 we spotted @JonEFerguson of @DogwoodCoffee at #SERBC in atlanta – when asked “what are you doing here”, he replied “Research.”

10:58 mr. ferguson competes w/ a colombia microlot from @DogwoodCoffee Los Platos El Mandarino, from producer Nodier Andrade

11:03 a constant stream of dialogue and information from @JonEFerguson – never a quiet or awkward moment, steady engagement with the #BCRBC judges

11:06 his roast from @DogwoodCoffee includes 40% “lighter roast”, 60% more developed roast to accentuate “caramel notes”

11:09 mr. ferguson’s #BCRBC milk comes from autumn wood farm, just outside MPLS – learn more: http://www.autumnwoodfarmllc.com/ 

4. Nathan Shelton, Cultivar Coffee, Dallas – South Central Region

11:18 up next its Nathan Shelton – he’s the owner of @CultivarCoffee in Dallas, Texas

11:24 mr. shelton of @CultivarCoffee competes using a coffee from Colombia – “Agua Blanca”, Pedregral region, grown by the Penna family

11:30 sig drink from @CultivarCoffee‘s nathan shelton features cloves and cinnamon, mexican vanilla bean, molasses

5. Trevor Gruehn, Kickapoo Coffee Roasters, Viroqua, WI – North Central Region

11:35 up next, it’s The Most Ridiculous Twitter Handle of #BCRBC – Trevor Gruehn ( @ThugLife4000 ) of @KickapooCoffee

11:43 oh my god @ThugLife4000 is also using Sassy Cow. Sassy Cow! Is Sassy Cow the official creamery of wisconsin #BCRBC competitors?

11:51 sig drink: @KickapooCoffee Kenya espresso with a meyer lemon honey syrup and “really awesome ice cubes”

6. Simeon David Bricker, The Roasterie, KCMO – South Central Region

12:00 “it’s not a city where tourists come – it’s a city where people live. ” – @SimBricks of @TheRoastery on his home town of KCMO

12:10pm a very KCMO focused routine here from @SimBricks – kansas city brewery, kansas city area milk, kansas city jeans…

12:11pm mr. bricker’s sig drink is “the hoppiato”, made using washington state hops sourced by kansas city’s own @Boulevard_Beer

7. Andy Atkinson, Intelligentsia, Chicago – North Central Region

12:15 “what piece of information can i tell someone that will add value to their experience?” – @BoomerBPA on the vagaries of service

12:19 mr. atkinson metions “orange sherbert and vanilla” as the notes for his Kenya Kangocho cappuccinos

12:23 mr. atkinson’s sig drink: blood orange, lavender infusion, coconut puree & maple syrup w/ @Intelligentsia Kenya Kangocho

12:28 mr. atkinson’s espresso shots have notes of “blood orange, candied apricot and maple syrup”

8. Patrick Burns, Palace Coffee Company, Canyon, TX – South Central Region

12:42 “One shop by itself in a small community can make a difference – we can create an experience.” -Patrick Burns.

12:44 part of what we love about covering these events is learning about new shops. @PalaceCoffee sounds awesome. learn more: http://palacecoffee.co

12:47 mr. burns competes using @EvocationCoffee‘s Costa Rica La Violeta – learn more: http://www.evocationcoffee.com/collections/coffee/products/costa-rica-la-violeta …

12:48pm a surprise and pleasure, this routine from @PatrickBurns1 and his own @PalaceCoffee – calls time at 15:00 flat.

9. Matthew Scott, Lemonjello’s Coffee, Holland, MI – North Central Region

1:00pm inside tip: @LemonJellos is the longest continually operating all-ages venue in the state of Michigan.

1:07pm mr. scott’s sig = “raspberry stout” – @LemonJellos espresso, local michigan raspberry jam, local michigan honey, co2 charge

1:09pm sincerely enjoyed this routine from matthew scott and @LemonJellos, but unfortunately he’s the first DQ of the day at #BCRBC – time at 16:19

10. David Fasman, Kaldi’s Coffee, St. Louis – South Central Region

1:14pm @DavidFasman competes using @Kaldis_Coffee Panama Lerida Estate - learn more and take some home

1:27pm Sig drink: cantaloupe, raspberry, and pom juices,espresso & cold brew, brought together with CO2 charge

1:28pm mr. fasman calls time at 14:55 – big roar in the crowd, super impressive routine from @DavidFasman and @Kaldis_Coffee

11. Zaida Dedolph, HalfWit Coffee Roasters, Chicago – North Central Region

1:34pm Ms. Dedolph competes using @HalfWitCoffee‘s Ecuador Perla Negra, sourced by the fine folks at @CafeImports

1:40pm i wanna dance with somebody. i wanna feel the heat with somebody. i wanna dance with somebody…somebody who loves me.

1:44 calls time at 14:57 – super cool, measured, professional routine from her and the folks at @HalfWitCoffee in Chicago

12. Lucas Becken, LatteLand, KCMO – South Central Region

1:48pm up next, another hometown hero – it’s Lucas Becken of Kansas City’s own @LatteLand – serving @Kaldis_Coffee

2:o5pm mr. becken is a 1st time competitor and has been with @LatteLand a scant 6 months. shouts out @Kaldis_Coffee and @mmmboni for suppor

13. Joshua Stephenson, Greyhouse Coffee, Lafayette, IN – North Central Region

2:11pm @GreyhouseCoffee is located near Purdue University – they’ve been voted “best coffeeshop” by the @purdueexponent 3 years running

2:14pm mr. stephenson of @GreyhouseCoffee competes using @PTsCoffee signature Southpaw Espresso – learn more: http://store.ptscoffee.com/coffees/southpaw_espresso.html …

2:2opm mr. stephenson’s sig drink: juiced tangellos, @PTsCoffee southpaw espresso, malt syrup “painted” inside a shot glass

14. Pete Licata, Parisi Coffee, KCMO – South Central Region

2:32 literally standing room only here at #BCRBC at @PeteLicata takes the stage, representing @ParisiCoffee

2:34pm mr. licata’s coffee is a quick-washed number grown by Lucas Vera the Loja region of Southern Ecuador

2:37 Mr. Licata plays this game like an athlete. No wasted movements, no stuttered words, everything honed & fluid & focused.

2:45pm sig drink: blood orange, clover honey, dark-ish coffee, light-ish coffee, cold ginger cream w/ brown sugar

2:46pm asks judges to drink the hot liquid through the cold cream – “don’t be afraid, those napkins are there for you to use”

15. Mickey Comerford, Alterra Coffee Roasters, Milwaukee – North Central Region

2:52 AWESOME. Mr. Comerford of @AlterraCoffee plays a vinyl copy of Isaac Hayes’ “Hot Buttered Soul” live on stage for his #BCRBC routine.

3:03 mr. comerford’s sig drink: apricot kernels, confectionary sugar and water – an amaretto paste – topped with @AlterraCoffee espresso.

3:05pm mr. comerford competes using @AlterraCoffee‘s Kenya Mukurwe – sig drink is paired with an amaretto paste. sounds awesome.

16. Ryan Jarboe, Evocation Coffee Roasters, Amarillo, TX – South Central Region

3:14pm sweet cream, buttery, amaretto – @RyanDJarboe on his #BCRBC capps

3:24pm mr. jarboe calls time at 14:50 – @evocationcoffee is one of the big stories here at #BCRBC – check them out: http://www.evocationcoffee.com

17. Jordan Hubred, Parka, MPLS – North Central Region

3:26pm Parka is a new restaurant collaboration between @DogwoodCoffee @Victory_44 and Rustica Bakery – 3 leading quality brands in MPLS

3:29pm Mr. Hubred’s espresso from @DogwoodCoffee = 50% costa rica 25% el salvador 25% brazil – tastes like “kiwi jolly rancher”

3:30pm did you guys know that people in MPLS are basically the nicest ever, and also they make delicious things?

18. Laura Clark, Homer’s Coffeehouse, KCMO – South Central

3:52pm cocoa powder, milk chocolate, and cherry notes in @azn_barista‘s espressos – Guatemala La Voz, roasted by @EFHobbs

4:00pm sig drink = espresso, orange, ginger, and flamed cara cara orange zest

4:01pm ms. clark turns in a routine with heart & passion, but unfortunately she’s past 16 minutes and will be the 3rd DQ of the day at #BCRBC

4:02pm “today i hope i made the producers, farmers, and roasters proud” – @azn_barista you definitely totes did. ♥

19. Andrew Grassmick, MadCap Coffee Co., Grand Rapids, MI – North Central

4:08pm Mr. Grassmick competes using @MadCapCoffee‘s Guatemala Las Aguas Altas, Huehuetenango region.

4:14pm “the first time i had this coffee, the heavens opened, the angels sang…i want to recreate that moment”

4:18pm sig drink: ghanaian cocoa melted w/ sugar & water, espresso, pressed blackberry w/ citrus peel, nutmeg

20. Nora Brady, Kaldi’s Coffee, St. Louis – South Central

4:42 ms. brady serves a naturally processed Sumatra wahana estate from @Kaldis_Coffee “an outlier” that challenges preconceived notions

4:45 there is this magic x factor control & pace thing that great competitors all do, and @snackpackbrady does that thing.

4:56 calls time at 15:18 – shouldn’t hurt her too much, that’s easy one of the best routines of the day at #BCRBC

21. Brenna Kail, Intelligentsia, Chicago – North Central Region

4:50pm Ms. Kail competes using @Intelligentsia‘s Organic Bolivia Anjilanaka, the coffee as fun to drink as it is to say!

4:52pm Brenna Kail of @intelligentsia drops espresso with “tart apricot, sweet caramel, a lingering clove finish”

5:02pm brenna kail of @intelligentsia turns in charming & professional routine, but unfortunately calls time at 16:10. she’s the 4th DQ of #BCRBC

22. Wyatt Johnson, LatteLand, KCMO – South Central Region

5:06pm up now is Wyatt Johnson, one of several competitors representing KC’s own @LatteLand serving @Kaldis_Coffee

5:19pm mr. johnson of @latteland calls time at 14:40 – big cheers here for another hometown KC barista at #BCRBC

23. Talya Strader, Bow Truss Coffee, Chicago – North Central Region

5:22 Talya’s routine at #BCRBC incorporates three coffees from three different roasters, processed three different ways

5:23 first coffee = washed red bourbon, roasted by @DarkMatter2521 – finca san jose from el salvador

5:29 2nd coffee from @talyastrader – ethiopia yirgacheffe roasted by @bowtruss served in capps – learn more: http://bowtruss.myshopify.com/products/ethiopia-yergacheffe …

5:30pm 3rd coffee served at #bcrbc is a pulp natural Panama roasted by @ipsentocoffee – she’s using that for her sig drink

5:34pm sig drink: sorrel, cranberries, honey, & v60 brewed @ipsento Panama pulp natural topped with @bowtruss yirg espresso

5:37pm she calls time at 15:02-ish, just barely over. big massive ambitious complex fascinating varied smart routine

24. Steve Willingham, Elemental Coffee Roasters, OKC – South Central

5:40pm mr. willingham will serve the judges a gedeo union yirgacheffe ethiopian – “a phenomenal coffee”

5:43pm @elementalcoffee is located in Oklahoma City, which is 5 hours and 354 miles from Kansas City and the BCRBC

5:55pm mr. willingham offers up a stellar routine here at #BCRBC, but unfortunately he’s just a few seconds over 16 minutes…5th DQ of the day

25. Brian Ensminger, The Coffee Studio, Chicago – North Central

6:00pm Mr. Ensminger serves a Bolivian Ocho Estrellas coffee roasted by @Intelligentsia

6:09pm . @ensmingerbrianm’s routine reminds me of @TravisBeckett – 1 of 2012′s USBC finalists. similar pacing & composure & tone. a compliment.

The post Big Central Regionals Day 1 Highlights appeared first on Sprudge.com.

Allie VanHyfte, Greyhouse Coffee & Supply Co., West Lafayette, IN (NC) @greyhousecoffee

12:15 allie vanhyfte competes using La Armonia Hermosa guatemala antigua, roasted by cincinnati’s deeper roots

12:21 allie’s sig drink: “the undertow” – layered drink with blackberry / pumpkin puree, cold cream, and espresso

12:24 first competitor of the day allie vanhyfte of @greyhousecoffee calls time at 14:59 – great start to day one of the #bcrbc

Dayna James, Avoca Coffee, Fort Worth, TX (SC) @avocacoffee

12:28 dayna is a first time competitor, and this is her first trip to chicago – she competes with a peruvian – kenyan blend @avocacoffee

12:37 ms. james from @avocacoffee has traveled around 1000 miles to be here in chicago today. ft. worth 2 chicago = a long drive.

12:40 “there’s actual molasses from the peruvian, actual rose flavor from the kenyan ”

12:41 new zealand honey, hot water, maduro cigar, espresso – whisked together – “then a hint of rosewater”- dayna’s sig drink

Blair Bachman, Victory 44, MPLS (NC) @Victory_44

12:51 the menu for mr. bachman’s restaurant (@Victory_44) in MPLS looks really, really good – http://www.victory-44.com/vmenu.html #porkcheeks #burger

12:55 mr. bachman competes using @cafeimports colombia los naranjos – served as espresso with a little house made candied lemon peel

12:57 always love fine dining (or fine casual dining, or whatever) influenced routines like this one from blair bachman and @Victory_44

Zaida Dedolph, Frank, Austin (SC) @hotdogscoldbeer

1:03 zaida competes using @handsomeroaster‘s rwanda abakundakawa – learn more here & buy some, maybe, sure why not – http://www.handsomecoffee.com/products/abakundakawa

Shannon Steele, Passion House Coffee, Chicago (NC) @steeleknuckles, @phcoffeeroaster

1:28 “my nickname is knuckles, but don’t be scared” – up now is Shannon Steele (NC) of Passion House Coffee

1:31 learn more about @steeleknuckles and her shop, passion house coffee, over at their website – http://www.passionhousecoffee.com/

1:31 “orange zest that floats above a river of dark chocolate, caramel, and a light mint finish” – @steeleknuckles on her espresso

1:38 sig drink – honey, coriander, vanilla, sparkling water – “clarity” – peanuts simmered in coconut milk, chocolate

1:40 her sig is called the “lucid / lurid” – up there with @sexyfoam‘s “smooth criminal” for sig drink name of the year

Chris Glasow, Zingerman’s Coffee Co., Ann Arbor (NC) @zingermancoffee

1:47 up now is Chris Glasow of Zingerman’s Coffee Co., Ann Arbor (NC) @zingermancoffee – competing with rwanda gatare bourbon

1:51 uhm free jazz “life on mars” anyone?

Alex Johnson, Quixotic Coffee, St. Paul, MN (NC) @behindthebrew, @quixotic_coffee

2:05 omg her tamp is bedazzled. @behindthebrew that’s amazing

2:09 @behindthebrew competes using @cafeimports fazenda recreio brazil microlot – bourbon, yellow icatu – roast by @moonshinecoffee

2:15 raspberry juice, then half shot espresso, then marscapone cheese w/ with lavender, finish espresso, gelled lemon juice

2:18 @behindthebrew has her sig drinks down at 14, calls time at 14:35 – one of the best routines so far for sure at #bcrbc

Stacey Wieck, MadCap Coffee, Grand Rapids, MI (NC) @staceylynn1221, @madcapcoffee

2:28 “take your spoon, give it three quick stirs, then set it back down – enjoy this beverage in three sips”

2:33 working through siphon sig drink while making cappuccinos – adds blackberry sugar, draws down the flame

2:35 @staceylynn1221 shouts out chicago’s famous bar, the aviary (@aviarycocktails), as inspiration for her siphon sig drink

2:38 sig drink down 14:15, instructs the judges, says thank you, calls time at 15:04 – all smiles and poise

Josh Wismans, Alterra Coffee, Milwaukee (NC) @joshwismans, @alterracoffee

2:45 very confidant performance from mr. wismans, pride of milwaukie

2:49 actually, it’s pronounced “mill-e-wah-que” which is Algonquin for “the good land.”

Caitlin Corcoran, Parisi Brothers, Kansas City, MO (SC) @caitcork, @parisicoffee

3:03 her espresso is a guatemalan washed typica – “green apple notes, the mallic acidity i LOVE in coffee”

3:05 bitter course is espresso – walnut, cocoa, a pop of green apple acidity – next up are the capps

3:07 sweet course – capps taste “like a warm walnut brownie – a creamy, velvety cappuccino” – mmm walnut brownie

3:13 sig drink – apples macerated in a sterilized mason jar 5 days, then pureed, strained, w/ honey crisp apple vinegar

Joshua Longsdorf, Anthology Coffee, Detroit (NC) @joshualongsdorf, @anthologycoffee

3:20 it’s nice of @joshualongsdorf and @anthologycoffee to keep their twitter handles simple.

3:27 mr. longsdorf competes for @anthologycoffee – a microroaster in detroit. learn more here: http://www.anthologycoffee.com/

3:37 @joshualongsdorf a great ambassador for @anthologycoffee and coffee in detroit

Lorenzo Perkins, Cuvee Coffee Roasters, Austin (SC) @lorenzoperkins, @cuveecoffee

3:40 “espresso is really fascinating. i find it amazing that such a small beverage is capable of being so many things…”

3:41 “espresso is espresso. it must be viewed as a whole substance if it is to be understood at all…so let’s begin.”

3:44 espresso is natural, pulped natural, and washed – he’s building 3 unique sig drinks for each -srlsy y’all @lorenzoperkins is serious

3:46 espresso is an emulsion. espresso is a compound. espresso is a suspension. @lorenzoperkins routine doesn’t compress well in 2 140 words

Talya Strader, Intelligentsia Coffee, Chicago (NC) @talyastrader, @intelligentsia

4:02 “dark fruit notes are my heart when it comes to coffee. it’s what i truly love.”

4:12 ms. strader’s sig drink takes fig, apple, marscapone, ethiopian espresso, swagger.

4:17 polished and professional 15 minutes from @talyastrader, manager of @intellibroadway – effortless and composed, a pleasure to watch

Matthew Scott, Lemonjello’s Coffee, Holland, MI (NC) @lemonjello

4:29 earn more about matthew scott’s shop here: http://lemonjellos.com/ – hawthorne heights are playing there april 6th.

4:33 matthew scott competes using @equalexchange‘s tupac amaru peruvian coffee – “picture me brewin’…”

Anya Pomykala, Zingerman’s Coffee, Ann Arbor (NC) @zingermancoffee

4:44 anya is the retail manager of zingerman’s coffee in ann arbor – 8-9 different methods on bar each day!

4:48 we are shaving cheese here, people

Nora Brady, Kaldi’s Coffee Roasting Co., St. Louis, MO SC @kaldis_coffee

4:59 learn more about @kaldis_coffee here: http://kaldiscoffee.com/

5:15 solid routine to close out the day from nora brady of @kaldis_coffee in st. louis – another high quality first time competitor at #bcrbc

The post BCRBC: Day One Recap From Chicago appeared first on Sprudge.com.

These weekends offer indelible snapshots of what the specialty coffee culture in America looks like in 2012, by region, city, roaster and individual. It’s the opinion of this website that barista competitions, though not perfect, are enormously important, but more than that, they’re a lot of fun to watch. In the right hands, those 15 minutes can be transcendent. Pay attention this weekend. These events are worth it.

There’s several ways for you to follow along with the fun; here, let us show you.

Your official homepage is here, via the SCAA – this is your jumping off point for .pdf schedules, events listings, official schedules, and the like. Your top-form livestream is available here , and the best way to follow along via Twitter is by using the hashtag #BCRBC.

We’ve put together some quick reference schedules for the .pdf phobic. Here’s a schedule for BCRBC Day 1 as well as BCRBC Day 2. We also have a complete schedule for the Brewers Cup preliminaries here. In accordance with de rigueur, the first round of the Brewers Cup will not be broadcast via the livestream; home viewers will have a chance to watch Brewers Cup routines on Finals Sunday. If you’re unfamiliar with barista competitions, or you’d like to offer a little bit of background and info to someone in your family or group of friends, we humbly suggest to you our “Parent’s Guide to the BCRBC”. It was originally published for the SWRBC in Santa Cruz, but we’ve adapted it for this weekend’s Big Central Regional. Hi mom!

Simplyfing the divisional split:

There are indeed two distinct regions competing this weekend in Chicago. The North Central division includes North Dakota, South Dakota, Nebraska, Minnesota, Iowa, Wisconsin, Illinois, Indiana, and Michigan. The South Central division includes Kansas, Missouri, Oklahoma, Texas, Arkansas, Louisiana, and Mississippi. Competitors from both fields compete throughout the weekend in non-overlapping routines, so from performer to performer you will see both regions. It’s not a 50-50 split for total entries; there are more North Central competitors than South Central competitors, but they will be judged and a top 6 will be awarded as two distinct groups.

Pretty easy to follow, but we’ve made it simple in our quick schedules by attaching a (NC) or (SC) designation to each competitor, and we’ll be tweeting with those distinctions as well.  In an interesting quirk, there are only 5 Brewers Cup competitors from the South Central region. All five competitors will automatically move on to South Central Brewers Cup finals, and their opening round routines will be adjudicated in accordance with all other Brewers Cup prelims. 

For those attending:

Here’s a quick breakdown of what’s going on this weekend on the social front in Chicago. On Thursday night there’s a meet ‘n greet from 7 to 9pm at Caffe Streets (1750 W. Division Street), with food ‘n drinks provided. You should probably visit Caffe Streets at least once while you’re here, because it’s a really good cafe. On Friday night there’s a BGA Party from 6 to 9pm at Isle of Man (3856 N. Lincoln Ave), which is like a fancy clothing and ephemera boutique, so we hope it’s cool for us to have a cocktail in there, but surely Morrissey figured this all out with them like a week ago. On Saturday night the post-Prelim afterparty is from 7 to 10pm at Bleeding Heart Bakery (1916 W. Chicago Ave).

We’ll be attending the event due to generous sponsorship from Counter Culture Coffee, Intelligentsia, and Alterra, who are the official hosts this weekend in Chicago. Sprudge.com will offer daily recaps and up-to-the-nanobreath live tweets, JustinTV stream trivia, videos, .gifs, loads of photos, and polite requests for food. Follow along with the madness via #BCRBC, join us on the livestream, and read the very best of it all each day right here on Sprudge.com.

The post BCRBC Info Portal: Chicago A Go-Go appeared first on Sprudge.com.

Day One – March 23rd, 16 competitors from beginning at 11:50 AM.

There are two different regions competing today, fielding two distinct sets of finalists. There are 10 North Central competitors today, and 6 from South Central. North Central entrants will be noted as NC, South Central as SC.

1. 11:50 Allie VanHyfte, Greyhouse Coffee & Supply Co., West Lafayette, IN (NC) @greyhousecoffee

2. 12:09 Dayna James, Avoca Coffee, Fort Worth, TX (SC) @avocacoffee

3. 12:28 Blair Bachman, Victory 44, MPLS (NC) @Victory_44

4. 12:47 Zaida Dedolph, Frank, Austin (SC) @hotdogscoldbeer

5. 1:06 Shannon Steele, Passion House Coffee, Chicago (NC) @steeleknuckles, @phcoffeeroaster

6. 1:25 Chris Glasow, Zingerman’s Coffee Co., Ann Arbor (NC) @zingermancoffee

7. 1:44 Alex Johnson, Quixotic Coffee, St. Paul, MN (NC) @behindthebrew, @quixotic_coffee

8. 2:03 Stacey Wieck, MadCap Coffee, Grand Rapids, MI (NC) @staceylynn1221, @madcapcoffee

9. 2:22 Josh Wismans, Alterra Coffee, Milwaukee (NC) @joshwismans, @alterracoffee

10. 2:41 Caitlin Corcoran, Paris Brothers, Kansas City, MO (SC) @caitcork, @pariscoffee

11. 3:00 Joshua Longsdorf, Anthology Coffee, Detroit (NC) @joshualongsdorf, @anthologycoffee

12. 3:19 Lorenzo Perkins, Cuvee Coffee Roasters, Austin (SC) @lorenzoperkins, @cuveecoffee

13. 3:38 Talya Strader, Intelligentsia Coffee, Chicago (NC) @talyastrader, @intelligentsia

14. 3:57 Matthew Scott, Lemonjello’s Coffee, Holland, MI (NC) @lemonjello

15. 4:16 Anya Pomykala, Zingerman’s Coffee, Ann Arbor (NC) @zingermancoffee

16. 4:35 Nora Brady, Kaldi’s Coffee Roasting Co., St. Louis, MO SC @kaldis_coffee

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