1st Annual Geekfest.

CoffeeGeek_Event_041
Originally uploaded by Intelligentsia Coffee.

It all started with this post, and thanks to Intelligentsia's big kahuna, Doug Zell, the 1st Annual Geekfest quickly became a reality.

For the starter at 10:00AM, we had our tour in Intelligentsia’s ginormous roasting facility, where we observed a batch of Colombia Tres Santos being roasted. For about 13 minutes, the roasting process turned those little grassy smelly green beans into the aromatic rich brown wonders. We then ushered to their cupping room where Geoff Watts, the director of coffee and green coffee purchaser, explained to us the coffee grading and the green bean buying process, also more importantly to develop a healthy and mutually respectful relationships with the coffee farmers.

I have never cupped a coffee before, so I was very looking forward to it. There were 6 coffees; Peruvian Organic Cruz del Sur, Colombia Tres Santos, Colombia Tres Santos, Micro-Lot: La Planada, Rwandan Zirikana, Rwanda Golden Cup: Melange, and the crowd favorite from Kenya (I am not sure if this Kangocho auction lot was the one we cupped.) The first step of cupping is to smell the aroma/fragrance from the grounds when they are dry, and after the grounds being steeped for 4 minutes with just off the boil water, crack the crust and smell again, and finally actually tasting the coffee. Kenya was the crowd pleaser, but I liked both Rwanda's, and Cruz del Sur from Peru.

So, how do you like your coffee? The most unexpected event for me was the comparative brewing. This experiment was to use the very same coffee, brewed with 4 different techniques; Chemex vs. French Press vs. Eva Solo vs. Technivorm, and surprisingly there were 4 distinctive coffee drinking experience from the same coffee!

The most fun and yet nerve wracking was the latte art throw down, where everyone got one chance to pour and judged. It was tense to perform under many watchful eyes and especially to compete with Matt, the 2006 USBC champ and Amber, the finalist. I gave my best, and they simply blew me out of the water…

We Have A Winner!

hold still
Originally uploaded by tonx.

It all started with James Hoffmann , the 2007 World Barista Champion, who came up with some sort of absurd yet interesting latte art challenge. The goal is to pour the latte art in whatever things you can imagine. About all the pours are technically difficult, but uninspiring, only a few pours caught my eyes. Like James’ and Stephen Morrissey’s rosetta pours in the open hands, Perrys’ art in a tomato, and Head CoffeeGeek Mark’s in the twin martini shaker caps. Nothing, but nothing can top this wild and crazy one by Ryan Wilbur from Intelligentsia in L.A..

Update…The challenge is getting more interesting…There was the mouth, and now the ear. Look at the way it is going, I don’t want to see the latte art in other orifices of a human body!

Learning How To Pour Tulip

Learning how to pour tulip
Originally uploaded by Spinnaker007.

Spring is here, and the tulip latte arts are popping up everywhere like their real counterparts. I figure I'll learn how to pour one...

Actually it is quite simple to do,

1st, pour like you would do a rosetta, just a couple of wiggles,

2nd, make a solid dot and push the partial rosetta toward the opposite side of the cup,

3rd, finish with a heart.

Do it well with the clean definition like this one, now that is a challenge. (Looking at how Sammy pours with such an ease, makes me envious.)

Latte Art in Motion - Rosetta.

Not sure if I like this pour...The beginning was promising, the execution at the end was so-so at best...

Rosetta With A Little Heart on Top

I was shooting for a fat rosetta like Kyle G.'s, by increasing the pour flow speed. I had to throttled back because I was about to lose control of my pour as it started to swirl. So, no fat rosetta for me...

Latte Art in Motion - Heart.

I am pretty satisfied with this pour.

Latte Art in Motion.

Click to see this one being made.

There is a latte art contest, and the winner takes home an espresso machine. I will try my best to pour a couple of hearts and rosettas before I decide which one to enter. You may see a few more in the coming days (if I am lucky enough.)

I am sure there will be some top latte artists gunning for the title but I hope I will win, because I have a plan for the winning. My plan is hidden within my blog somewhere, if you find it, wish me luck...

I hope I can win this contest. I want to donate the machine and auction it off on coffeegeek.com. All the money will go to coffeekids.org.

First Mochaccino!

First Mochaccino!
Originally uploaded by Spinnaker007.

My first mochaccino since my espresso machine went kaput. Thanks for MikeP and another Chicago coffeegeek, Scott, helped me fix my machine. The foam tastes better with cranked up steam pressure. I need to work on the pull and the pour...

SEXY!

SEXY!
Originally uploaded by Spinnaker007.

How do you like me now?? I got my picture on display and to be admired by others...

The truth is that you can get yours from dumpr.net.

Craving For Some Chocolate.

Waiting In Line Like Everyone Else.
Originally uploaded by Spinnaker007.

I just redeemed the orange one for a 12oz mocha at Intelly's Millennium Park store. While waiting for my drink and talking with Andy, a barista trainer, I learned Doug, the owner of Intelligentsia will compete in the latte art competition which coincides with the Great Lakes Regional Barista Competition (which is a totally different competition), and the Coffee Fest this coming weekend. SWEET!

The Swan

I saw this free pour @ Dwell Time. Those guys and girls at Caffe Artigiano are so talented. When you visit Vancouver, don't skip Caffe Artigiano!

Officially Out Of The Slump!!!

Latte art is one strange creature. Some days you have it. Some days you don’t. The harder you try, the more elusive it gets. I was unable to pour the simplest latte art, the heart, until today...Wheeew...

There is a hole in the crema, because I steamed the milk after I pulled the shot. The shot and cocoa mixture just sat there and wait...