Matija Hrkac of Croatia began his performance with a thing of beauty: a siphon filled with cherries, golden plums, and red fruits, which he brewed in from of the judges. I was mesmerized watching the bright pink liquid boiling up and then down through the siphon.
![DSC_0034](http://baristamagazine.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2012/06/DSC_0034.jpg)
It would be only one of many lovely elements in Matija’s performance, where sweet cherries took center stage in the coffee, as well as in the elements of the signature drink.
![DSC_0059](http://baristamagazine.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2012/06/DSC_00591.jpg)
Matija used two coffees, one of which was a Brazil for his cappuccinos. He told the judges that the Brazil he was using would lend a peanut butter note to his cappuccinos.
![DSC_0053](http://baristamagazine.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2012/06/DSC_00531.jpg)
In the end, he put four glasses worth of pitted red cherries into a juicer, pulled sweet, fresh juice back into the glasses, and incorporated the siphone brew with this as well as espresso.
Time: 14.59