Ultimate Barista Challenge (Festival Part 3)

Kona Coffee Cultural Festival, Nov. 4-13, 2011

Part 3, Ultimate Barista Challenge.

Heather

Pete

Next to the coffee cupping competition, a stage was set up for the barista challenge.  Two barista stations were opposite each other.  Heather Perry, two time US Barista National and UBC International Champion, and 2011 US National Barista Champion Pete Licata pulled shots, taught the finer points of pulling coffee to baristi, and performed.

These two were amazing.  If you ever got a good cappuccino, watching this demonstration made you appreciate every cup.  The basic advice they had was to be consistent.  Pete Licata went so far as to personally pick out his coffee blend and roast it himself. 

There are many variables in a good espresso drink.  There is the coffee itself, the blend, the roasting and the grinding.  Then comes the distribution and tamping.  The water should be filtered and the temperature regulated to 92 to 96 degrees Celsius.  Then the pressure should be 9 to 10 atm.  The extraction time was emphasized by the experts.  25 to 30 seconds is preferred, but they said 20 to 25 brought out other flavors.  The whole process should take about 30 seconds.  Also important is the cleaning and maintenance of the machine itself.  I bet the makers of different machines will also say theirs is better for even more exact reasons.  Humidity and even the cup it is served in, are also factors in making a great espresso drink.

Pete and Heather prepared several coffee drinks for four local judges in a set amount of time.  Pete used chocolate and root beer flavors for his specialty drink.  Heather drew an elephant in hers with the milk foam and used several flavors she felt were reminiscent of a circus.   Latte art was the topic of a whole session during the events.

Shawn Steiman, author of “The Hawai’i Coffee Book”, pulled espresso shots for spectators throughout the two days at the Keauhou Beach Resort.  He was a wealth of knowledge about coffee.  In fact, that is his profession.  He said he evaluated the Braund farm once.  He has a PhD in Tropical Plant and Soil Sciences and is a coffee consultant. 

The barista events ended Thursday evening after 6:00pm with Heather and Pete's performance.  We were able to see it because we came for the Kona Coffee Council  (KCC) Dinner & Benefit Auction in the ballroom.  David wore his Kona Coffee Farmer Association (KCFA) shirt to the event.  Luckily, another man also had on this rival organization's shirt.  The event was quite casual.  The MC's 4 year old daughter drew the winning tickets for the centerpieces.  There were some interesting live auction items, but the same people seemed to outbid each other for them.  A couple at our table spent their yearly vacation in Kona for the coffee festival week.  Over the years they have met several farmers and have friends now in the community they see once a year.

Ultimate Barista Challenge Hawaii
Noon – 6:00 p.m.
Keauhou Beach Resort
78-6740 Alii Drive, Keauhou

Presented by Kamehameha Schools and Keauhou Resort

The Ultimate Barista Challenge® is an action packed coffee and espresso competition where baristi compete with latte art and espresso frappe challenges.

Kona Coffee Council Dinner & Benefit Auction
6:00 p.m. no-host cocktails
7:00 p.m. Buffet dinner
Keauhou Beach Resort
78-6740 Alii Drive, Keauhou

The evening is hosted by members of the Kona coffee industry and includes a buffet dinner, silent auction and live entertainment. Everyone is welcome. $45 per person. Reservations required, call 322-6575