Barista League event in Croatia. Photo courtesy of Angela Ferrara
[F]ollowing events in Sweden and Croatia earlier this year, the competition for baristas, by baristas, is heading to Los Angeles for its first and only U.S. appearance in 2019.
On Saturday, August 24, ahead of Coffee Fest L.A., The Barista League takes over Black Rabbit Service Co. for an evening of competition and camaraderie. Twelve teams will face off in three rounds (Barista Skills, Sensory Skills, and a Mystery Round) to compete for prizes that include T-shirts, coffee, equipment, and the grand prize: a spot alongside the winners from Sweden and Croatia for the Mystery Coffee Vacation to Seoul, South Korea, which features five days of café tours, master classes, and sightseeing.
Judges for The Barista League: Los Angeles are Charles Babinski (G&B Coffee), O.M. Miles (Ikawa Coffee), and Umeko Motoyoshi (Umeshiso), with Michelle Johnson (The Chocolate Barista) emceeing the evening. Entry to the event is $5, with all ticket sales going to Grounds For Health, a non-profit dedicated to treating and preventing cervical cancer in coffee-producing countries.
Registration is now open to any team who wants to participate; registration is on a first come, first served basis, so make sure you enter soon! Visit The Barista League website for more information.
Access Your Potential
The Barista Guild presents its two-day event Access, September 17–18, at the Parq Event Center in San Diego. Designed to be the annual membership gathering for the Barista Guild and coffee professionals, Access provides attendees with a wide variety of workshops and lectures, the chance to test out the latest in coffee technology, networking opportunities, and more. Early bird registration is now available through August 16. Visit the Barista Guild website to register or to learn more about Access 2019.
