Competition Practice Day 1

So I’ve finally gotten serious.

Tonight I started competition routines again. My signature drink is still being built, and at great cost, but should be ready by next week. (customs in Turkmenistan are a nightmare) But I’m back doing capps competition style, which, for me is hotter than I normally like them. We’ve set up the roastery so it resembles the WBC stage of Tokyo last year, even including the backstage machines. Theres still a need for some grumpy stage hands, uber competitive baristas, and pompous ex champs – (though James admittedly does a good job).

I’m enjoying identifying problem areas but not looking forward to losing sleep over them. I like getting familiar with cups and cloths and other items, but I worry about getting sick of my comp music too soon. This may change over time. Speaking of music, one song you should all be listening to is White Winter Hymnal by Fleet Foxes, my sister suggested it for competition but it lacks the slap stick style I wanna get across.

No doubt as the competition gets closer and the worst part of it becomes more imminent, (logistics) I’ll start to wish I’d started preparing earlier. But if theres one thing in my performance I wanna achieve, its a genuine character. And if I’m being genuine, then it should be difficult to understand, funny to look at but also tasty.

Those of you who don’t check the square mile holding page each day, (we can see you), might not have noticed the change. We’ll call it a teaser. Not that this blog will ever be Square Mile centered.

I suppose I should put a picture in to pretty the post up;

 

 

 

 

Practice sucks

The Square Mile Coffee Sample Roaster is alive and kicking, and so today, the day after Anette roasted seemingly hundreds of samples, we tasted whats out there. It feels so good to get cupping again, though as we set up our 5th flight( I say we, James and Anette are doing it as I’m clearly typing this), I’m quickly learning about the fatigue from trying to concentrate. This may lead you to think that I rarely concentrate and you’d be right. If anything you should interpret this as a sign of how seriously I take coffee.

I’m working on a brand new signature drink right now, which obviously I’ll tell you nothing about. I don’t think any fellow competitors will steal any ideas, nor do I think they’d want to, but it’ll be more impressive if I reveal it in Copenhagen. (Translated, its nowhere near finished yet)

I do however know what espresso cups I’l be using, what shirt I’ll be wearing, what level of trimmed beard and what milk (after relying on last year’s WBC country’s milk, I’ve decided to go with the more trustworthy and quite tasty Irish Brand of Avonmore).

I’m delighted at Kyle’s success in the US, and look forward to kicking his prep table over backstage. 

I’m working on a new latte art design that I think hasn’t been done before, but then I’m not sure how well this particular person’s face is known.

Its quite challenging to think up new ideas, and I know I definitely don’t wanna etch. I think etching is clever, but I like latte art thats quick and doesn’t interfere with the drink once the cup’s filled up.

Here are my macchiato practice so far;

 

Also, you may find this video fun. I really like Garrison Keillor, and Prairie Home Companion. 

But yeah, practice sucks.

Video

I’m sure you’re all glued to the USBC blog this week, but you may find this fun;

I’ve just moved into my new place, which has no internet, so I haven’t been able to stay on top of things in Minneapolis. But I just wanna say how delighted I am to see the LA crew do so well, particularly Nick and Kyle. 

You’re all winners, except for those of you who didn’t win, in which case, well you know what you are then.