Blog Blog Blog SCAA 2006 that is

[terryz]

So Davew at Espresso Parts apparently didn't think we were going to be busy enough this weekend, so he set up a little blog site.

Since we all know espresso doesn't have an X in it, we still wish to honor ya'll that think it might. Please visit www.expressoparts.com over the next few days for up to date photo's comments and more, from the show floor of the SCAA conference in Charlotte.

It's just another way for all of us at Espressoparts.com to say thanks to all of you on Home-barista!

[HB]

Nice one Dave! I really should start a little blogging action too. Today it was Abe, Bob, myself and another 40+ people in the first day of the USBC Judges' Certification workshop. Tomorrow is the mock competitions / calibration.

[OlywaDave]

Well we have been pretty busy the last few months and I've been away from the forums... Man Terry has been more active than me even. Lets consider it restitution.

About the red tamper... Yeah Terry and I were commenting on how much we liked the way that turned out just this morning. Glad to see we aren't the only ones appreciating it.

[HB]

The second day of the USBC Judges' Certification Workshop is over. The highlight of the afternoon was the mock competitions where we sampled some of the best drinks as part of calibration. A necessary part of training was also debating the proper scoring of intentionally bad espressos. A few photos, more later...


Scott shows off the jazzy new colored stopwatches


Bob and Abe carefully weigh the merits of an espresso's appearance


Tick, tick, tick...


Ryan mugs for the camera


Phoung prepared wonderful signature drinks during the mock competition


Jeff after having one too many bad espresso (don't ask)


Bronwen served us the best cappuccinos in recent memory


Bob, Kitt, and Spenser waiting for the next round


Abe and Barry chatting about the finer points of technical judging


Abe and Andrew waiting for the next round

[HB]

Today was mostly watching the competition and lurking around the (under construction) showroom floor renewing friendships and acquaintances. Bob, Lino, and I stopped by EspressoParts.com's booth to say hello to Dave and Brian.


From Tradeshow Chaos I & II

They were only half way through their unpacking but were happy to show us a few neat items. Bob, who had settled on the black aluminum HB tamper from Reg Barber, changed his mind when seeing the new red one from EPNW. Everyone really liked the translucent paint and Bob preferred the bulby's feel to the RB model. I may well trade mine in...

The next stop was ESI, where we bumped into Kent Bakke. Despite the rumors of his retirement, he's still very much around the showroom floor. Lino and he talked a bit about the VernaDesign Flux Capacitor; I was a little surprised when Lino said, "My initial target audience is the high-end espresso afficianado and the GS3 is my primary competitor." Gulp. Bill Crossman was uncrating three GS3 prototypes. Early HB members may recall that he was the subject of my first blog entry. Bill accepted none of my subtle hints to send one by the Bench for a second go-around.

Our last stop was the cafe / roaster "power alley" just behind the competition area in the showroom: Intelligentsia, the Barista Guild, Counter Culture Coffee, and Gimme Coffee all within 50 feet of each other. Nice! Kevin and Chris at Gimme were kind enough to indulge Bob and my requests for samples from their three-group Synesso with Andy Schector's programmable linear pump.

By this time Andy Schector, Jim Schulman, Bob Yellin, and Sean Lennon were also in town, so off to a nearby restaurant we went for Latino cuisine. Of course nobody could resist Lino/Sean's offer to visit the Wizard Suite for a private showing. With less than 10 shots since it was assembled, Lino and Andy managed some nice extractions using a blend that Lino "borrowed" from the espresso lab he assisted in. Jim remarked that the mouthfeel / buttery espresso was a good sign that the group design was going in the right direction.

Tomorrow morning Abe and I will be judging in the 2nd preliminary round of the USBC. Sean has offered to take photos. If I can convince him and / or Andy to take some nice photos for the finals, I'll writeup something similar to my SERBC 2005 wrapup.

[HB]

Who could resist the "GS3... I want it bad" T-shirt? It only costs $50, and includes 12 tickets. Below is Jessica, who cheerfully helped me fill mine out.


Drawing is Monday at 1:30pm, just before announcing the USBC winner

[Gatewood]

I was there; never been so tired in my life. I never saw the espressoparts booth, although I looked everywhere (I thought.). I did get a ticket for the raffle, but mostly I sampled some espressos and tea and wandered. It was amazing. So many people! I did get lost more than once, but thoroughly enjoyed it. Won't go back, though. I'm too old for that! But it was great. I saw machines I had always wanted to see (Elektras are lovely, aren't they!) and was hoping to see some forum guys but didn't. I saw a bit of the Barista competition. Nice experience, over all.

[HB]

Today Abe and I served as sensory judges for the second day of the preliminary rounds. Fifteen minutes might sound like a lot of time, but judges are encouraged to take notes to help jog their memory during competitor debriefing and in the event of questions from the head judge during calibration, all while not missing key elements of the performance. Below Abe is taking notes while the competitor prepares the next round of drinks.


Abe looks serious; look for better photos soon, courtesy of Sean Lennon

Each "flight" consists of five competitors; fresh judges are rotated in regularly to avoid palate fatigue and prevent caffeine overload. Despite the competition and several tours of the showroom floor sampling coffees from Counter Culture, the Barista Guild booth, Zoka, and ESI, I wasn't nearly as wired as the evening after the mock competitions. Along with our espresso stops, we couldn't pass an opportunity to visit the Mecca of Tampers, espressoParts.com. Terry prides himself on carrying a wide range of tampers for every price and preference. Although barista tools is serious business, he has a whimsical side to his stock too, including the 70s Disco Tamper:


Staying Alive, Staying Alive

Jim Schulman was among those who decended on Terry, Dave, and Brian's wares. I almost fell over in shock to see long-lost Ken Nye (Espressocraft, 9th Street Espresso). He's busy, busy, busy and more difficult to spot than the Loch Ness Monster. Fortunately his interest in creating "barista tools by baristas" is unchanged, though I understand he'll market them exclusively through espressoParts.com.


Jim Schulman discusses the merits of training 'clicker' tampers

[coffeetaster]

Great Photos of the USBC event!

spencer

[ciordia9]

SCAA Event Photos: http://www.flickr.com/photos/cior...72057594102521945/

Writeups: http://andy.ciordia.info/articles/tag/conference

Now that it's done I need to distill the rest of the knowledge I gained. I had a facinating time meeting so many good people. Many kind hearts and warm welcomes. So many hugs! What a great industry to know and I hope over time I can entrench myself firmly within it. To those I met, it was fantastic. To those I didn't get to, lets try harder next time. If anyone needs anything from me (yea..get the chuckles out hehe) don't hesitate to ask.

-a