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NCA has officially endorsed the Ultimate Barista Challenge®. NCA’s endorsement and support for the nationwide barista tournament echoes a longstanding commitment to the small business community. The link also reflects enhanced value delivery targeted to this growing membership segment. The Ultimate Barista Challenge is the brainchild of veteran barista competition organizer Sherri Johns of WholeCup Consulting. With 30 years experience in the specialty coffee industry and a recognized barista champion, Sherri was instrumental in introducing and developing the current Championship format. She also co-authored judging criteria and rules and regulations for both the US and World Barista Championships. Sherri is also the author of Coffee Café, published by New Holland Books. The Ultimate Barista Challenge USA is a competitive coffee and espresso event designed to showcase talented baristi, creative espresso beverages, and excellent brewed coffee, as well as educate and entertain. Sherri’s concept is a program that is more interactive and lively than other barista competitions. The Ultimate Barista Challenge was designed with non-coffee professionals in mind, which may be why it is catching on so well at non-coffee specific foodservice trade shows. New York Competition Earlier this month, the Ultimate Barista Challenge came to New York as part of the International Restaurant and Foodservice Show. NCA Communications Director Joe DeRupo served as an invited judge, joining a panel drawn from the barista, gourmet and coffee retail communities. NCA was also acknowledged at the event for its participation. The competition included four individual challenges -- Latte Art, Espresso Frappe, Espresso Cocktail and Best of Brew. Challengers faced off against one another, and the winner chose to challenge one of two former champions, who hold the title of “ultimate barista.” One new ultimate barista was crowned when challenger Greg Suekoff from Café Pronto in Annapolis, Maryland won the Espresso Cocktail event. Ultimate baristi Heather Perry of Coffee Klatch in California and Ryan Dennhardt of Barista’s Daily Grind in Nebraska defended their titles in the Espresso Frappe, Best of Brew and Espresso Cocktail categories. Future competitions are scheduled for April 24-27 in Seoul, South Korea, June 13-15 in Beijing, China, and in the US at the Western Foodservice and Hospitality Expo on August 18-20 and the Florida Restaurant & Lodging Show on September 7-9.
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