CHAMPS

At the SERBC in Clearwater, FL...

3rd place - Myself, Octane Coffee, ATL
2nd place - Ben Helfen, Octane Coffee, ATL
1st place - Lem Butler, Counter Culture Coffee Roasters



More when I get home, many pictures to come.

certified = awareness

It's official. I'm Octane certified.

Along with JT and Ben, I took the final portion of the Octane certification Thursday night. It was a mock competition, and although the OC (you like that, don't you) only requires two servings of each beverage category, Ben and I ran through it under standard SCAA rules and regulations. We all passed without any doubt, becoming the first Octane certified baristas. January 1st marks the deadline for certification, and from that point on drinks will only be made by certified baristas. Along with this privilege and set of standards, Bossman Tony will reward his certified baristas with a tamper of their choice and a membership to the Barista Guild of America. -Yes!-

The final part of certification also allowed me to get a secure idea on how my training for the SERBC has evolved. I feel significantly more confident in the skills I've picked up. As someone that has never competed before, I feel that I have a firm grasp on what is expected of me and how I will perform. Much thanks to Chris and M'lissa for this. And yes, as being a part of Team Counter Culture and Team Octane I have a tremendous amount of support from every angle.



Octane is support the team by branding us (Ben and I). With the help of Stefan of Armchair Media (a friend of all of ours) and King Screen, Tony secretly made Team Ben and Team Danielle tshirts and stickers. I laughed too hard when I saw these, and it's a hoot to see the entire staff wearing them right now. They're on sale at the shop which is heightening an awareness of the barista competition itself. Customers are inquiring about what a barista competition entails, and even just guessing what it could be:

"So they just call out drinks and you make as many as you can in 15 minutes?"

Explaining that the competition centers around quality and professionalism is possibly hinting to our customers that we don't just slop bevs into mugs and stencil a leaf or heart on the top. Suddenly the customer understands that we've trained for months for the competition and studied/practiced our tails off for the certification. Who knew we cared so much?

"Oh, so it's like the Iron Chef of coffee!"

Sure. If the analogy brings you that much closer to understanding, then bring it on.

team!

Until one particularly evil internet monopoly gets their act together, I am riding on one bar of neighbor WiFi (thank you m'lissa). So when you're waiting on a particular email from Counter Culture Coffee regarding the status of your email for Team CCC, and your cat Bruce finds a comfortable spot on your desk that makes that one bar disappear and not come back, the internet becomes a strangely precious resource.

Last night while toggling between options of Planet Earth or Frontline (a difficult choice, mind you), my mind wandered like a kid on Christmas Eve. Is it there yet? I should check, just in case. The internet is out. Wait, no, it's back. Bruce, don't move. Gmail. click.

And it was there. And I did it. I made it. I'm one-third Team Counter Culture.

I only quietly doubted my own passion or abilities to whether or not I was capable or dedicated enough. My real concern was if "they" were going to take me seriously. I appreciate their ability to see where I am coming from. Their understanding and my induction to the team lends me to an obscene amount of training time with mister owens, coffee and travel expenses, and the honorary aspects of teaming it up with Lem. Tomorrow I believe i will get to "meet" the other Team CCC member via teleportals.
Much to plan. My mind is a-spun with ideas. Soaring, really.


So now the true test begins: to finish my degree (a la mode) AND rule the SERBC.