Barista Jam 2009
18 05 2009Posted by Robert @ 10:19 pm
The Barista Jam came to the Radio Station Cafe. It was a hot Sunday afternoon on the long weekend and I decided to bike down from the drive to the East Hastings haunt. I didn’t really know what a barista jam was but after reading Mark Princes (aka the Coffee Geek) Tweet I decided to take a Sunday afternoon off from work and check it out.
The Jam comprises of a dozen barista’s from a few cafes and who ever could pull the best shot of espresso grinder, judged by Robert Csar Supervisor of JJ Bean on Main Street and Mark Prince, from Coffee Geek.
Competitors chill during the judging at the Radio Station Cafe
This was the first “Jam” I had been to and there was so many things I enjoyed about spending a lazy Sunday afternoon watching barista’s compete for nothing but a belt buckle, a couple bucks and the admiration of thy fellow peers.
Other interesting notes I found from the day were:
- • It gets really hard to shoot 12 different pictures of a barista working a three group La Marzocca Super Caimano with a point and shoot digital.
- • It is really hard to watch a barista jam without being able to enjoy some espresso yourself.
- • I pulled my first shot of espresso in about five years and although I had the grace of an elephant ballet dancing, 23 seconds later I had a decent shot.
- • Vancouver has a great community of involved coffee enthusiasts who truly enjoy the adventure, mastery and complexity of serving a great shot of espresso.
- • People who volunteer to do the dishes are AWESOME!
This little Jam started last year at Radio Station Cafe making this only its second. I hope two things continue on to next year. One, that the jam just continues, heck I will even help sponsor next year if needed. Two, that it remains as fun and low key as it did this year. No one was wearing any colours or sporting any logos (other than the bags of coffee themselves, which is ok) and there wasn’t anything on the line other than a spent afternoon and some fun with fellow enthusiasts. While we need the Barista Championships in Canada (congrats Sammy) and the world, this is one that should remain just for the fun of it (and the belt buckle of course).
Gallery of Photos with captions
-
- Competitors chill during the judging at the Radio Station Cafe
-
- Mark Prince check out the three group Super Caimano from La Marzacco at the ’09 Barista Jam.
-
- Tristan Bacon from Moja Coffee times his first shot while the Judges can be seen chatting through a mirror in the background.
-
- Judges Robert Csar and Mark Prince take their first sips of competition shots espresso.
-
- Jeremy Stothers of Radio City Cafe is reflected in the La Marzcco while he fills his basket with ground coffee beans.
-
- Asuka Yoshimoto from Blenz Library Square cleans the head of the her machine before pulling a shot.
-
- The Skull and Portafilters, This shirt means business. . .
-
- Vivian Chang from Blenz Library Square chats with friends after competing. (sorry I missed you behind the machine)
-
- The Double Guns the first and only prize to the winning barista. (We won’t divulge who dropped the belt off the machine during competing)
-
- Brady McCallum of JJ Bean Powell sports some Henna while pulling a shot. She looks as if she is tell the shot to behave. Coffee Enthusiasts Evan McGraw photographs the action the background.
-
- Brady McCallum of JJ Bean Powell hope you enjoy your expresso boys. (Flattery will get you everywhere and McCallum tried to used that to her advantage)
-
- Johnny Giannakos of Cafe Crema times his first shot. All Competitors (to my knowledge) timed their own shots without the use of the auto-timed buttons.
-
- Johnny Giannakos of Cafe Crema smooths out the dose of coffee grounds in the portafilter.
-
- Kyle Wheeler of Radio Station Cafe sporting the most devious barista t-shirt I have ever seen. (Also sporting quite the devious look on his face)
-
- Layla Osberg of Blenz HQ packs a shot. (sorry about the elbow shot)
-
- Oh Crema. . .
-
- David Akkerman from Moja Coffee check out his shot after timing it.
-
- The mirror image of George Giannakos packing a shot. This is one clean machine.
-
- George watches his shot being poured. He also delivered them camera in hand. It was a site to see.
-
- Michelle Wishart, left, and Brittany Hiebert actually Volunteered to wash most of the dishes during the Barista Jam. They should be sainted for such a deed.
-
- Ya Wei Lin from Blenz Library Square is reflected in Super Caimano while the grinder dispenses.
-
- Mark Prince Coffee Geek drinks a shot of espresso. This shot came with a chilled shot of sangria chaser.
-
- Chris Morgan certainly won the best dressed competition here he is timing a shot.
-
- Chris Morgan dispenses grounds into his portafilter while the girls look out on to the street.
-
- Spencer Viehweger of JJ Bean Main street shows off his “Barista Tongue” while sporting the Double Shot Belt. Sign that he has won the ’09 Barista Jam. . .
Share 
wish I was there.
Kyle: nice 2% shirt. although, I think you’d look better in discovery colours (fingers crossed).
you really got some great snaps of the jam! it was a pretty fun day. thanks for coming down and bloggin’ about us.
I really enjoyed coming down it was a fun afternoon. . . .