Comments on: 2008 Western Regional Barista Competition http://theshot.coffeeratings.com/2008/03/2008-wrbc/ Rants and Raves on Espresso Sun, 12 Oct 2008 07:26:02 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.6.2 By: TheShot http://theshot.coffeeratings.com/2008/03/2008-wrbc/#comment-3735 TheShot Tue, 08 Apr 2008 23:34:28 +0000 http://theshot.coffeeratings.com/2008/03/2008-wrbc/#comment-3735 Thanks for the post, Kyle -- and great work in the competition! I'll certainly reserve any personal judgements on Jana. I just mentally have to get over the Franke association (the way many now have to get over the Starbucks association with Clover). Thanks for the post, Kyle — and great work in the competition!

I’ll certainly reserve any personal judgements on Jana. I just mentally have to get over the Franke association (the way many now have to get over the Starbucks association with Clover).

]]> By: Kyle Glanville http://theshot.coffeeratings.com/2008/03/2008-wrbc/#comment-3734 Kyle Glanville Tue, 08 Apr 2008 20:28:25 +0000 http://theshot.coffeeratings.com/2008/03/2008-wrbc/#comment-3734 Greg - Thanks for the coverage! But don't hate on Jana Oppenheimer, she used to be a sales rep for Stumptown and moved on to ESI before it was renamed Franke Coffee Systems. She's charming, kind, and knows her stuff about coffee. Greg -

Thanks for the coverage!

But don’t hate on Jana Oppenheimer, she used to be a sales rep for Stumptown and moved on to ESI before it was renamed Franke Coffee Systems. She’s charming, kind, and knows her stuff about coffee.

]]> By: Christian http://theshot.coffeeratings.com/2008/03/2008-wrbc/#comment-3728 Christian Thu, 03 Apr 2008 16:18:50 +0000 http://theshot.coffeeratings.com/2008/03/2008-wrbc/#comment-3728 Hey Greg, sorry I missed actually meeting up to talk shop and plan our coffee reality show. I think we were in a couple of the same Saturday morning sessions - if I did in fact recognize you from your 15 minutes of fame! Unfortunately, I had to run home right after those and didn't end up seeing you around again. Hey Greg, sorry I missed actually meeting up to talk shop and plan our coffee reality show. I think we were in a couple of the same Saturday morning sessions - if I did in fact recognize you from your 15 minutes of fame! Unfortunately, I had to run home right after those and didn’t end up seeing you around again.

]]> By: TheShot http://theshot.coffeeratings.com/2008/03/2008-wrbc/#comment-3722 TheShot Tue, 01 Apr 2008 01:49:52 +0000 http://theshot.coffeeratings.com/2008/03/2008-wrbc/#comment-3722 Blue Bottle notably hasn't sent anybody to the WRBC that I know of. While I don't know if there's a deliberate motivation behind that, it does compound that missing-pieces view of these events (for example, including the partial coverage that regional barista competitions provide nationwide). Still, the Blue Bottle team was in force at the 4th Machine. So it's not like they deliberately have their heads in the sand about it. Not to take away from all the hard work, preparation, and training that goes into these competitions, but more and more I get the greater value of these things is in creating an espresso social among coffee addicts -- both the amateurs and the pros -- in the region. It's its own Burning Man with a portafilter... Blue Bottle notably hasn’t sent anybody to the WRBC that I know of. While I don’t know if there’s a deliberate motivation behind that, it does compound that missing-pieces view of these events (for example, including the partial coverage that regional barista competitions provide nationwide).

Still, the Blue Bottle team was in force at the 4th Machine. So it’s not like they deliberately have their heads in the sand about it.

Not to take away from all the hard work, preparation, and training that goes into these competitions, but more and more I get the greater value of these things is in creating an espresso social among coffee addicts — both the amateurs and the pros — in the region. It’s its own Burning Man with a portafilter…

]]> By: Wayne http://theshot.coffeeratings.com/2008/03/2008-wrbc/#comment-3720 Wayne Mon, 31 Mar 2008 21:14:28 +0000 http://theshot.coffeeratings.com/2008/03/2008-wrbc/#comment-3720 Ciao, Grazie for the report. I was tempted to go to this event, but I was already booked solid. And from what I see here, looks like they had more than enough spectators. Odd that Blue Bottle didn't enter anyone in the competition, but I reckon they're doing OK as-is. Now I guess I'll have to check out Ritual Roasters when Chris is on duty. Ciao,

Grazie for the report. I was tempted to go to this event, but I was already booked solid. And from what I see here, looks like they had more than enough spectators. Odd that Blue Bottle didn’t enter anyone in the competition, but I reckon they’re doing OK as-is.

Now I guess I’ll have to check out Ritual Roasters when Chris is on duty.

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