Our final day of coverage sees continuing updates as we give you the near-instant scoop on the USBC winner, show award recipients, and some of our final, random thoughts about the 2004 SCAA Show.
espressoDOM Senior Member Joined: 1 May 2003 Posts: 2,188 Location: Bay Area Expertise: I love coffee
Espresso: WEGA Lyra (vibe) Grinder: Mazzer Mini Vac Pot: (no more coffee equipment) Drip: French Press Roaster: Hot Top Roaster; Fresh Roast...
Posted Mon Apr 26, 2004, 10:55am Subject: Re: Day 3 from the SCAA 2004 Atlanta, Road Reports
I enjoyed the report...
I am curious to hear more about the internet cgeek and how he/she was received in Atlanta.... there seemed to be more to the story..... Sounds like you had fun Mark.... WHO WON WHO WON.... great suspense....
(go brownen) I root for her because she is always smilin' in your pics of her.... seems like a nice person...
DOM...evil genius ...Up to no good in espresso at all times... VIVA la parts de Espresso
You so totally deserved that win. And I know that everyone at that level of competition are probably only half points apart, so congratulations to all y'all.
EspressoTech Senior Member Joined: 8 Nov 2003 Posts: 9 Location: Atlanta, Georgia Expertise: Professional
Espresso: La Marzocco 3 group Grinder: Astoria, Baratza Vario Drip: French Press
Posted Mon Apr 26, 2004, 8:57pm Subject: Re: Day 3 from the SCAA 2004 Atlanta, Road Reports
I was there. Damn, it was cool!! Mark was working his ... he was working really hard. Between judging, answering questions, and shooting photos, he was sweating like a decathlete! I was stunned by the excitement and emotion in the air when Bronwen won. It made the event very important and legitimate, in a "Best Actor" Oscar, or Olympic Gold Medal kind of way. When she won, she ran far away from the center of things to jump on and hug her two-boss-Johns (from Hines PM). Then she was carried back by one of them, still hugging, with her feet 18 inches off of the ground! I don't know her personally, but I was damned proud of her, the crew at Hines, and the whole affair. I was humbled by the poise and skill of each competitor. Other than Bronwen, my faves were Kyle, Ryan, and Billy. I remember reading Billy's essay on CG a year or so ago. It was cool to watch him work. The other highlights of the show for me were meeting and talking to Mark Prince, Martin Hildebrandt (some excellent milk-frothing advice), and George S. I got to meet Jeff (Zoka) Babcock's sister and her family, who live here in Atlanta. How about a "Zoka" here in Atlanta, Jeff??? It's the hub of the Southeast and all... Let me know when you assemble your team. ;-) I also helped the ESI folks pack their machines and display, and they sent me home with about 40 pounds (that was not a typo) of the finest espresso beans from all over the world. Didn't want to haul it back to Seattle, I guess. Gee. What to do with all that coffee!! Also got some cool La Marzocco T-shirts, met Kent Bakke of ESI, and got to look "under the hood" of their newest 3 group bar (LM) with PID heating, and 3 separate boilers. Tech heaven! Thanks again to Mark for his hard work. And he's friendly to boot! It was, perhaps, the coolest coffee day of my life. Oh yeah... the man who said that he trained Martin H. made me a cap at the ESI display. And Vince Piccolo, president of Caffe Artigiano in Vancouver B.C. made me a beautiful rosetta latte, and I got to taste one that George S. made in a little demonstration he did with Martin. And I made myself a few, now and then. God bless the La Marzocco's at the ESI display. I drink a lot of coffee, and the caffeine doesn't usually bother me, but I did notice my hands shaking a bit as I drove home from the show. Then again, it might have been the thrill of the Barista Finals, or was it the mountain of coffee next to me in the passenger's seat? Thank you SCAA, ESI, USBC, & Mark Prince!!!
jen_Ilovecarmelmochas Senior Member Joined: 26 Apr 2004 Posts: 2 Location: Omaha, NE Expertise: I love coffee
Posted Mon Apr 26, 2004, 9:34pm Subject: Re: Day 3 from the SCAA 2004 Atlanta, Road Reports
I've never met Bronwen but by the looks of the picture of her proudly holding her trophy, it is incredibly easy to get a feel of her personality! Congrats to her! And, Congrats to RYAN, who tied for third at his second ever competition--the first being the Midwest Regionals which he won 3 weeks ago! I understand he had quite a following in the crowd for being the newbie. I understand that they witnessed the "Vanilla Ice" version of his performace the night before during Karaoke Night! Watch out! I'm so proud of him! (I'm his very best big sister!)
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