By Sean Sullivan
The country’s top baristas are in Vancouver Monday to face off in
a national competition that will see the winner represent Canada at a world
championship.
Among those competing in the
semifinals Sunday was Lauren Thu, a roaster and barista with JJ Bean in
Vancouver, who wowed the judges with an espresso-based signature drink inspired
by a Kir Royale cocktail.
Thu, 22, deftly worked her
espresso machine as two judges hovered with clipboards and a panel of four
waited to taste her drinks. Despite the apparent intensity, she said it’s a
friendly competition.
“Backstage everyone’s friends,”
she said. “We’re all asking each other, ‘Oh, what are you making?’”
Six finalists chosen from
Sunday’s 15 competitors will faceoff for the national title Monday, with the
winner representing Canada at the 2012 barista world championships in Vienna.
“This is a place where you get a
chance to test your chops against people who love it as much as you,” said Thu,
who has been crafting specialty coffee for about five years. In addition to the
signature drink, each contestant must prepare and serve four espressos and four
cappuccinos — all in 15 minutes.
People who just pop the lid on
their morning espresso may not consider the hard work that often goes into a
drink.
“Baristas who care put so much
thought into what they’re doing,” she said. “If you want to make a good
espresso, it’s a science.”
The event, held as part of the
two-day Canadian Coffee & Tea Show at the Vancouver Convention Centre, drew
vendors from across Canada, eager to promote their wares to West Coast
businesses.
Among these was the brand-new
Commercial Drive Coffee Co., with its Grandview, The Drive, Park Drive and
Continental coffee lines.
“I was born and raised in and
around the Drive,” said owner Deomenico Bruzzese. The coffee is roasted locally
and warehoused in the neighbourhood.
“Commercial Drive has been
renowned for coffee forever,” he said. “People talk about Commercial Drive, and
they talk about coffee.”
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