The Shots Heard 'Round The World

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By By Mike Dardis

Summary

The world's best baristas are brewing up a storm at the World Barista Championships here in Seattle.

Story Published: Apr 18, 2005 at 11:43 AM PDT

Story Updated: Jul 24, 2009 at 11:54 AM PDT

The Shots Heard 'Round The World
SEATTLE - The shots heard round the world are being poured in Seattle.

The world's best baristas were tamping it out at the World Barista Championships in Seattle. The battle was brewing between competitors from 36 countries and it all came down to Monday's finals.

Last year's U.S. champ can only imagine what it would be like to win it all.

"It is a lot of preparation, a lot of hard work, a lot of dedication," said Seattle's Bronwen Serna. "It's a huge relief to have all your work pay off."

The competition is fierce. Finalists are judged in a number of categories, and each barista has to grind out 12 drinks in 15 minutes -- four espressos, four cappuccinos and four beverages of their own creation.

Time is important, but it's not the most important thing.

"First of all, how the drink tastes, that's the main thing," said Fritz Storm, the 2002 World Champ who is helping judge this year's contest. "The looks of the drink, the technical skills. How the barista is working. Last performance, personality, do I like this person?"

And the judges selected a barista from Copenhagen, who brought his own milk from Denmark, as this year's winner.

The signature drink by Troels Overdal Poulsen was flavored with pepper and lavender.

Japan was second and Canada third in the coffee-making competition. The other finalists in order were baristas from New Zealand, Iceland and Norway.

This was the sixth world competition and the third one won by the Copenhagen coffeehouse where Poulsen pours. He calls his signature drink "E-S-B" for Enhanced Sensory Balance.

The U.S. champion, Phuon Tran of Ridgefield, Wash., was eliminated earlier in the heated competition.

Baristas each had 15 minutes to prepare and serve judges four espressos, four cappuccinos and four beverages of their own creation.

Along with the title and a trophy, the winner takes home espresso equipment from the sponsors -- as well as world bragging rights for one year.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.