I love coffee competitions, but many of them are… how do I put this nicely… divorced from the realities of being a working coffee professional. Which in and of itself isn’t a bad thing; competitions can be a way to highlight the pinnacle of whatever it is they are showcasing. But what of the everyday barista? Where’s their time to shine? Well, it’s August 20th in Los Angeles.
Introducing The Opener, a new competition created by Mazzer. Coinciding with Coffee Fest LA, The Opener is a new fast-paced event testing a barista’s ability to get the shop setup for the morning shift. If you’ve ever pulled an opening shift at a cafe and went to check the schedule to see who closed the night before so that you can properly curse their name, this competition is for you.
Taking place at La Colombe’s Frogtown cafe, The Opener pits eight coffee professionals in a fast-paced game that “tests your opening skills and nerves.”
The solo opening shift is a rite of passage for every coffee pro. It’s way more than just tossing croissants in a display case and turning the key. The second the lights flip on, the clock is ticking and it’s a mad dash to get espresso dialed in before that first regular walks up.
We want to see what you’ve got. Who in LA can dial in the fastest while tackling a mountain of side work left behind by a lazy closer—all with someone banging on the door 15 minutes early asking for an extra-hot cappuccino?
The competition begins easy enough. Eight baristas will compete to see who can dial in a Mazzer Super Jolly G the fastest, with the four fastest times moving on to the Semi-Finals and Finals round. But that’s where things start to get interesting. In the Finals, competitors will have to also handle, “absurd side work tasks, unexpected curveballs, and total shift mayhem.”
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In order to compete, DM @MazzerUSA on Instagram and let them know why you think you’re the best opener in the biz.
But for those not looking to compete but who would nonetheless like to partake in the chaos, The Opener is completely free to attend and will include NA drinks and light bites. Space is limited and an RSVP is required, which can be made here.
So if you think you’re the best opener there is, time to prove it. It all gets going Thursday, August 20th at 6:30pm at La Colombe Frogtown at 2828 Newell St #4, Los Angeles. For more information, visit the Mazzer USA Instagram.
Zac Cadwalader is the managing editor at Sprudge Media Network and a staff writer based in Dallas. Read more Zac Cadwalader on Sprudge.
