Summertime Rolls

MIKE PICCOLO AND KEN MARUYAMA AT ROASTERS GUILD

It's been a busy time for me lately. I attended the Sixth Annual Roasters Guild Retreat in Grand Rapids, Minnesota and got to meet a gaggle of dedicated coffee professionals from Vancouver to Tokyo that all made the pilgrimage.

I also competed in the innaugural "ULTIMATE BARISTA CHALLENGE", Latte Art Competition; an Iron Chef type barista showdown, put on by Sherri and Danny John's of Whole Cup Coffee Consulting. The competitors were all young and talented (myself excluded), but in the end, there can only be one.... It was me. Since I won the competition I was able to pick between Heather Perry or Ryan Denhardt to square off against in an exhibition. I chose Ryan and he brought the pain. It was great though and I encourage everybody out there to compete in this event when it comes to your area. My prize was a customized Reg Barber Tamp that says "The Ultimate Barista".... Sweet!