Attention all you coffee grinding baristas out there.  For the second straight year, Queens based Dallis Bros Coffee is holding the North East Regional Barista Championship from Feb. 25 to Feb. 26.  I expect (hope) my native Buffalo, New York coffee masters to make a showing and take the first prize from the defending champion, Dallis Bros’ own, Philip Search.

Across the street from the Empire State Building, the competition will be in association with the annual Coffee and Tea Festival NYC.  Baristas representing thirteen Northeast States can compete in either the Barista Championship or the Brewers Cup.  In fifteen-minute integrals, baristas get the chance to stir up their own concoction to impress a panel of judges.

The Barista Championship consists of two rounds of competition and each competitor must present four cappuccinos- latte art optional, but this is a contest I’d expect some Monet “Lilly Pads” in my cappuccino- four shots of espresso and four signature drinks to present to the judges.  Six of the finalist will qualify to compete in the National Barista Championship in Portland OR.  The winner of that will fly across the Atlantic to compete in the World Barista Championship held in Vienna, Austria.

The Brewers Cup will focus on the manual brewing of coffee rather than espresso making seen in the Barista Championship.  The two-round competition starts off with a mystery bag of coffee that brewers must meddle with to create a great cup of Jo in under fifteen minutes.  The final round allows brewers to use their own coffee and duke it out for the brewer who has the best coffee.  Judges will look for flavor, balance and harmony.

Last year’s championship saw the highest spectator attendance for any regional competition.  If this year is similar to last years, expect even more coffee crazed attendants.

Dear up and coming barista, this is your chance to prove to the northeast that you are indeed the Iron Chef of coffee making.

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