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WBC Atlanta 2009

Taiwan, Ukraine, China

#1: BARISTA CHAMPION OF TAIWAN ”CHIA-MING TSAO Taiwan’s Chia-Ming Tsao is the first to take the stage, with beautiful tableware and a very cool, calm disposition. A good sized crowd is gathered to cheer him […]

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Cafés

Sweden & El Salvador

Two of our favorite countries have been the focus of the last week and also this week: Five wonderful friends from Sweden came to Portland to spend three days exploring the coffee culture of our […]

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WBC Copenhagen 2008

THE FINALS!

Here we are! It’s crazy to believe that we made it to this point after three long days of preliminary competition. There are probably 1000 people packed into this small, tight room. First things first: […]

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WBC Copenhagen 2008

Competitors #49 ”#52

#49 NATIONAL CHAMPION OF IRELAND STEPHEN MORRISSEY I was lucky enough to score a shot of Stephen’s espresso this morning back in the prep room, and man, it blew me away. Soooo sweet, so deep […]

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WBC Copenhagen 2008

Competitors #44 ”#48

#44 NATIONAL CHAMPION OF THAILAND SIRITHAI RANGJANTHUEK There are really very few women in this years WBC, but I’m happy t see that Sirthai is one of them. She’s quite the professional, and a darling […]

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WBC Copenhagen 2008

Competitors #39 ”#43

#39 NATIONAL CHAMPION OF BRAZIL EVERTON PENNING PETER Everton’s giving us a great way to start the day: peppy, sultry Brazilian music and a bright set-up studded with red: red tamper, red grinder, red daisies […]

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WBC Copenhagen 2008

Competitors #34 ”#38

#34 NATIONAL CHAMPION OF KOREA JUNG-HYUN YOO WBC judge Brent Fortune went to Korea for the national championship recently (read abut it in the June-July 2008 issue of Barista Magazine) and was totally blown away […]

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WBC Copenhagen 2008

Competitors #24 ”#28

#24 NATIONAL CHAMPION OF FRANCE ANTHONY CALVEZ Ah, Le France. Guido from La Marzocco was just sitting with me, and he’s vey excited to see Anthony’s performance ”he has high hope for this champion. And […]

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WBC Copenhagen 2008

Competitors #19 ”#23

A quick note: competitor #18, South Africa, originally scheduled to compete at the end of day one, isn’t here yet. Hopefully he’ll make it soon, and will be scheduled into the mix. #19 NATIONAL CHAMPION […]

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WBC Copenhagen 2008

Competitors #11 ”#17

#11 NATIONAL CHAMPION OF FINLAND MIKKO HAAHTI Mikko is the second barista I’ve heard today (first was Soren of Denmark) who proudly tells the judges he’s using a blend containing Edwin Martinez’s Finca Vista Hermosa […]