Sustaining the New Wave of Barista Challenges and Championships
By Richard Wolak
Sherri Johns has 31 years in the specialty coffee industry and began her career as a barista in San Francisco in 1976. She was recognized as Champion Barista in SF 1982, 1983 and 1985. As owner/operator/chef of The Blue Note Cafe in San Francisco, she was recognized as serving the best cappuccino in North America by Travel & Leisure Magazine in 1987. In 1990, Sherri joined Starbucks Coffee, for five years, facilitating the opening of 20 stores as the company's trainer and coffee specialist. At Allegro Coffee, Sherri shaped the coffee training program and coordinated the Whole Foods Markets in-store coffee roasting and espresso bar program for 100 stores. Sherri has lived and worked abroad primarily in Southeast Asia and South and Central America opening cafes and providing barista and coffee education for the private and public sector. Co-chair IWCA Marketing and Communications Committee
Sherri was instrumental in introducing and developing the current Barista Championship format and co-authored judging criteria and rules and regulations for both in the US and for the World Barista Championships. In 2004/5, she was one of three Judges Certification Committee members to write, define and facilitate the WBC Judges training and certifications for the World Barista Championship. She coordinated the USBC and WBC in Boston and Miami at the SCAA Conference, provided judges training in Trieste, Boston and Seattle. Mrs. Johns is both USBC and WBC certified judge
Sherri is an astute coffee cupper as noted by her placement as Head Judge for the esteemed Cup of Excellence program. As assistant to George Howell in Brazil 2002, then Head Judge for 2005 Cup of Excellence programs in Honduras, Colombia and El Salvador in 2006.
San Francisco Coffee co-founder and Coffee Board Member Sherri Johns has published her first coffee book, Coffee Café. This easy to read book is loaded with 80 recipes and full color illustrations to help you make delicious hot and iced coffee beverages at home
Many individuals fall into this line of work purely by accident and learn to appreciate and love the fine art of specialty drinks, but for Sherri Johns, the president of WholeCup Coffee Consulting, coffee has always flowed through her veins. Sherri and husband Danny are partners in WholeCup Coffee Consulting located in Portland, Oregon, USA, specializing in international barista training, specialty retail concept development and producing coffee special events including competitions and barista jams for the industry, other trades and consumers.
The Ultimate Barista Challenge is the newest creative format in barista competitions reaching a broad range of baristi, coffee professionals, chefs, restaurateurs, coffee enthusiasts and consumers featured at high profile, highly attended professional trade expositions throughout the world. The Ultimate Barista Challenge has appeared in New York, Los Angeles, Orlando, Florida, China, Korea with more countries signing on.
The Ultimate Barista Challenge is an action packed competition where baristi, someone who professionally prepares coffee, compete in a dueling stage of identical espresso stations to shake, not stir, their espresso cocktails, to prepare beautiful caffe latte art, blend espresso frappe and brew the best they have. Each barista has a tight 10 minutes to prepare drinks in each category and serve to a discerning professional tasting judges' panel comprised of coffee specialists, trainers, food writers, chefs or sommeliers before a live audience to win the right to challenge the reigning champion and in turn become "The Ultimate Barista"
Creator of The Ultimate Barista Challenge. USA, Sherri Johns, exclaims "Food, Pastry and Bartending competitions are very popular events and the IFSNY provides an amazing venue to host The Ultimate Barista Challenge.. It is time coffee service and espresso take the stage and becomes part of the dining culture, not just a segment for specialty cafes. Johns herself is a former barista champion in San Francisco in 1980. "Our goal is to introduce professional barista and coffee brewing skills to restaurants and chefs." Co-creator and Master of Ceremonies, Danny Johns, states, "How many times have you enjoyed a wonderful meal, only to be served a bad cup of coffee afterwards? Good coffee and espresso must be included as part of the overall dining experience. We are here to share, inspire and help educate."
POSTED: Wednesday, May 09, 2007