Competitions

Celebrating the Barista Craft

Craig Simon, Veneziano Caffe

Anne Cooper, Di Bella Coffee

Colter Jones, Caffè Artigiano

Anthony Benda, Cáfe Santé Veritas

Nick Cho, Murky Coffee

Peter Middlecamp, Black Sheep Coffee Café

Matt Milletto, American Barista & Coffee School
Mark Prince, CoffeeGeek.com

Craig Simon competed in the 2008 Victoria Barista Championship in Melbourne, Australia. He qualified for the Final and placed 5th overall. Simon used Terra Keramik espresso and cappuccino cups.

Craig Simon is a barista trainer and sales representative at Veneziano Caffe in Melbourne, Victoria, Australia.

Baristi spend years practicing and perfecting their craft of creating and serving espresso beverages. It is a community that is passionate about the art of espresso beverage preparation and service. The very best baristi compete in regional, national and world championships.

We would like to acknowledge the work and achievements of the barista community through a few pictures and words.



Saucers	Warming up the cups	Pulling espresso shots	Craig's setup



Serving espresso	Sensory judges	Preparing cappuccino	Steaming milk



Pouring latte art	The final product	Serving cappuccino	Building signature drink
Photos copyright by Sydney Low. Used with permission.

Anne Cooper won the 2008 Queensland Barista Championship in Brisbane, Australia. She has won for the 3rd consecutive year. Cooper chose to compete with Terra Keramik espresso and cappuccino cups.

Cooper is a barista in the Roasting Department of Di Bella Coffee in Brisbane, Queensland, Australia.

Colter Jones, the 2006 Canadian national barista champion, competed in the 2007 World Barista Championship in Tokyo, Japan using Terra Keramik espresso and cappuccino cups.

Colter Jones was a first-time competitor at the World Barista Championship and finished an impressive 7th out of 45 competitors, missing the Final by a mere 1/2 point. He shares his experience in pictures and words.

Jones is the general manager of Caffè Artigiano on Hornby Street, Vancouver, Canada. Caffè Artigiano has five locations in Vancouver.



Backstage Laying out my supplies in the prep area. My entire setup was a very simple, yet classy, white with silver.	New gear Brand new Terra Keramik cups on top of a brand new machine. Doesn't get any better than that.	Preparation time I am steaming milk while my brother checks my cappuccinos' espresso base.	Pouring latte art I always strive for good delineation...the contrast of white microfoam surrounded by dark crema.



The finished product I personally like the pour in the top left hand corner.	On the world stage This is the most nervous time of the competition for me...	Up close and personal My cappuccinos were displayed on the big screen, and the crowd responded with loud cheers.	Sensory judges Serving my cappuccino round to the judges. Probably the best drinks that I prepared on this day.
Photos copyright by Barrett Jones. Used with permission.

Anthony Benda was a first-time competitor in the 2007 Canadian Barista Championship in Toronto, Canada. He qualified for the Final and placed 3rd overall. Benda used Terra Keramik espresso and cappuccino cups.

Anthony Benda is a a barista with Cáfe Santé Veritas in Montreal, Quebec, Canada. We have partnered with Benda to create recipes, tips and a video.

Latte Art in Black Cappuccino Cups by Anthony Benda

"It was a pleasure to work with Terra Keramik cups. The size and shape are ideal for pursuing that perfect espresso or cappuccino, and the feel of using a cup so carefully crafted is truly rewarding. It's a privilege to be associated with people as passionate about coffee as I am, thank you Terra Keramik!"

Anthony Benda
Cáfe Santé Veritas


Photos copyright by Liz Clayton. Used with permission.

Nick Cho, one of the leading baristi in the United States, competed in the Semi-finals of the 2007 US Barista Championship in Long Beach, California using Terra Keramik espresso and cappuccino cups.

Nick Cho’s performance was captured in pictures and words by Beata Siwinski and Mark Prince of CoffeeGeek.com.

Cho is the owner of Murky Coffee, with cafes in Washington, DC and Arlington, VA. He is also a Director of the Specialty Coffee Association of America.



Array of cups Nick Cho's choice of cups are the amazing Terra Keramik cups. As a backup, he bought a set of Illy crystal nude cups.	Handmade art The Terra Keramik cups are dripping white porcelain with platinum highlights on the handles and edges.	Just before the start Nick Cho cleaning his station in the last seconds before his official start to the 2007 US Barista Championship.	Into the competition Cho is loading up the espresso machine's portafilter with some pretty sweet technique.



The face of concentration Cho used the middle group, which in this competition was providing some baristi with trouble. He looks quite intense, examining the shots.	Watching the workflow Cho watches the flow of espresso as he steams the milk for his cappuccino round, which is being built into the white Terra Keramik cups.	Double action With the Terra Keramik cups lined up to receive espresso, Cho is handling two portafilters at the same time, getting them loaded and ready to pour.	Concentration Cho's latte art skills are quite good, and his concentration on the free pour, in mid air, is quite intense.



Steaming milk As the sensory judges look on, Cho is steaming the milk for the second of his two pours for his cappuccino round.	Building signature drink Cho is preparing ingredients for the final part of his competition, building the signature drink, a recipe he invented himself.	Complex signatures The professional setup used by Cho during his signature drink build. The shot glasses, dual knock boxes, tamper, dual grinder, all very deep!	Sensory judges The four sensory judges are evaluating the elements that have gone into Cho's signature drink presentation, rounding out his competition.
Photos copyright by Beata Siwinski. Used with permission.

Peter Middlecamp was a first-time competitor in the 2007 US Barista Championship and qualified for the Final. Many consider him a barista to watch in future competitions. Middlecamp chose to compete with Terra Keramik espresso and cappuccino cups.

Middlecamp is co-owner of Black Sheep Coffee Café in South St. Paul, MN.

We asked Middlecamp to provide feedback about the Terra Keramik cups. His response brings their function and design to life in poetic fashion.

"As Baristas and lovers of espresso, we search for that perfect shot, that perfect pour, that perfect sip. To me Terra Keramik searches for perfection in this same way, one cup at a time. Each cup is hand crafted with skill and intense passion. They are hand painted and signed, glazed with no cadmium or lead whatever, and triple fired for durability. They are each rimmed and signed with Platinum, a classic kiss of Sun and Moon."

				"As a competitor I search for that which will help me reveal and protect the ethereal qualities of my espresso. Terra cups are of the perfect size and shape to serve traditional beverages of the highest quality. They are dense and retain heat extremely well. The handle feels natural in the hand, and more importantly - the rim is perfect against the lips. So few things actually touch our lips in life, coffee truly is and can be a love affair."

"My first impression was visual. The rim and the platinum dipped handle call out from across the bar. The second thing you will notice is the weight. Balanced, thick, and extraordinarily dense. They seem to be made with an ancient skill, but decorated with the vibrant colors of our gardens, our kitchens, our mornings, and moods. They are an excellent fusion of classic style and cutting edge function. These are cups to be given to dignitaries in cedar boxes. This is the cup from which to drink the first morning of your honeymoon. These are the vessels for the most sought after, most fleeting, most vibrant elixir of our time." Peter Middlecamp, Co-Owner Black Sheep Coffee Café
Photos copyright by Peter Middlecamp. Used with permission.

Matt Milleto is Director of the American Barista & Coffee School in Portland, OR. Milletto placed third in the Millrock Latte Art Competition at Coffee Fest Atlanta in 2007 and is a certified barista competition judge for USBC regional competitions.

Mark Prince is the Owner and Chief Editor of CoffeeGeek.com, the largest online coffee community, and Creative Director of WebMotif, a web development service firm. He is also a certified barista competition judge for USBC and WBC competitions.

Prince captures the beauty of the Terra Keramik cups through the camera lens in stunning fashion. Espresso from some of the world's finest roasters being pulled into Terra Keramik espresso cups on one of the world's most unique espresso machines - a highly customized, one of a kind La Marzocco Linea that he owns.

Photos copyright by Mark Prince. Used with permission.

"I am very impressed with the quality and design of Terra Keramik's espresso and cappuccino cups. When a barista focuses on making the best espresso beverages possible, what better way to serve a drink than in beautiful, handcrafted ceramics. Any barista competitor will understand the value of a quality presentation for espresso based beverages. I highly recommend having a set of Terra Keramik cups on hand when you want to deliver the best looking and tasting product."

Matt Milletto, Director
American Barista & Coffee School


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