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A New World Barista Champion

Just got back to my hotel here in Tokyo after crowning the new World Barista Champion 2007: James Hoffmann from the UK. His performance was excellent and he did way better in the final round than in the preliminaries. He features a single origin espresso from Costa Rica, used a straight Kenyan in his cappuccinos and mixed the two blends after brewing for his signature drink. James is a really nice guy, whom I've been fortunate enough to spend some time with in the last year. I am so happy he's the new champion and I'm sure he'll do extremely well.
If you wanna see more detailed reports from the WBC got to zacharyzachary.com. They have done an outstanding job of updating live from the competition floor and back room.

Coffee may Prevent Cancer

Just a little encouraging link to an article stating that new research indicates that the combo of coffee and exercise might prevent skin cancer! Good news for us coffee lovers!

http://www.ivanhoe.com/channels/p_channelstory.cfm?storyid=16800

WBC day 1

The World Barista Championship is well under way. Day one was a long one with around 25 competitors. Danish champ, Lene Hyldahl, did very well (in spite of a lady fainting in the front row). Sweeden also looked very good. heck, they all did. It's impossible to tell from the audience floor who'll be in the finals. This morning James Hoffmann from the UK is opening the day. Last night the Specialty Coffee Association of Japan held a spectacular Gala-dinner. They had a show on the stage whit a dancing coffee bean. I'll try to post video when I get back home. It was great!
The picture is the prices - the reason all these baristas are here ;-) This year there are also prices for best sig drink, best cappuccino, best espresso and a Congeniality price voted by the baristas for the one who'd been the kindest to the rest. A good idea to instill a sense of responsibility towards each other in the barista back room and preparation area.
I'm off to see James and all the others now.