Congrats to this year's US Barista Champion, Katie Carguilo, from Counter Culture, NY, NY. Amongst a strong, well-known field of competitors like Intelligentsia's Charles Babinski, Verve's Chris Baca, and Jared Truby, and many more, Katie pulled out the victory swimingly. Looks like that origin trip to Aida Batlle's farm paid off! She used two coffees, both from the Yergacheffe region of Ethiopia, one washed, one natural. Her signature drink consisted of a representation of fermentation water Ethiopian-style, adding a mash of nectarine, lemon, sugar, and jasmine green tea, and vinegar. She'll compete in Vienna June 12-15 for the title of World Barista Champion. I'm sure her winning routine will be posted online soon. Check it out when it does! Good luck, Katie. Win the world, girl!

Coffee Map Updates: New cafes in Cental and S. America

There are finally some great coffee shops popping up in Central and South America. Here are the new additions, as can be seen by visiting the google map to the right: Caffe Lucca (Curitiba, Brazil), Cafe Suplicy (Sao Paulo, Brazil), Coopedota Cafe (Santa Maria, Costa Rica), Viva Espresso (San Salvador, El Salvador). Viva Espresso is home to Alejandro Mendez, the Current World Barista Champion, and first barista from a coffee producing country to win the competition. Click on the link below the map, to open it up!!


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