Barefoot Coffee Roasters Barista Team Set to Compete at the 2005 Western Regional Barista Competition on February 1920

A competition pits 15 of the top Baristas from the best espresso bars in all of California and Hawaii in an intense coffee making competition.

Santa Clara County, CA February 14, 2005 -- The Barista Competition team from Barefoot Coffee Roasters and several of their wholesale cafustomers Baristas will be competing for the top spots at the upcoming Western Regional Barista Competition. A total of five (5) of the Baristas competing are on the Barefoot Barista Competition Team. This is the first western regional Barista Championship and marks a new stage in the espresso renaissance occurring in America.

Baristas (individuals who excel in the art of espresso preparation) from Barefoot Coffee Roasters, an artisan roaster of organic and Fair Trade coffees, have competed in several Barista competitions before and have done very well. Most recently Monica Hill won first place at the Bay Area Battle of the Baristas and Eugenia Chien placed third in the same competition. Andy Newbom, Chief Espresso Officer of Barefoot Coffee Roasters, has competed in several Barista Championships including placing 13th in the nation at the 2004 United States Barista Championships in Atlanta.

The Barista Competition team is comprised of these coffee rock stars:
    Eugenia Chien, Barefoot Coffee Roasters, Santa Clara, CA
    Monica Hill, Barefoot Coffee Roasters, Santa Clara, CA
    Eton Tsuno, Etoniq Espresso, South San Francisco, CA
    Melody Harwell, SmallTown Coffee, Kapaa Hawaii
    Kelley Price, Global Blends Coffee Company, Mountain View, CA

Eton, Melody and Kelley all work for wholesale customers of Barefoot Coffee Roasters. Melody Harwell is also the only Barista representing her home state of Hawaii at the competition. So she is especially eager to make a good showing on her first ever competition.

I am so excited I cant even sleep! said Melody Harwell of SmallTown Coffee in Kapaa, HI. I have been practicing every day for weeks on perfecting my espresso and my cappuccinos. I am so proud to be able to represent the great state of Hawaii in this cool Coffee Olympics. It is so sweet to be part of the Barefoot Barista Competition team, I am stoked!

Taylor Maid Farms Organic Coffee & Tea and Roshambo Winery are teaming up to host the Specialty Coffee Association of Americas (SCAA) Western Regional Barista Championship on February 1920, 2005. This competition provides an opportunity for baristasindividuals who excel in the art of espresso preparationto showcase their talents for producing superior quality coffee and espresso drinks.

Each contestant will prepare and serve 12 coffee beveragesone espresso, one cappuccino, and one specialty drink of their own creation for each of four judgeswithin 15 minutes. Competitors will be judged based on taste, presentation, technical skills, and cleanliness.

The first-place winner will receive an expenses-paid trip (travel and accommodation) to compete in the semifinals round at the 2005 U.S. Barista Championship in Seattle, WA, on March 1013. The winner of the U.S. competition will compete in the World Barista Championship in Seattle, WA, on April 1518.

Coffee is a culinary art. These Barista competitions are an exciting part of the major espresso renaissance that is occurring in America today. Emphasized Andy Newbom, Chief Espresso officer of Barefoot Coffee Roasters. These competitions are all about showcasing the immense skill, talent and knowledge it takes to create a perfect espresso. In the next five years great Baristas will be a professional class alongside pastry chefs and sommeliers.

The SCAA is the trade association for the specialty coffee industry, one of the fastest growing food industries in the world. The organization sets industry standards for growing, roasting, and brewing and promotes sensitivity to the environment and a consciousness of social issues. Their more than 2,500 company members worldwide include coffee retailers, roasters, producers, exporters and importers, and manufacturers of coffee equipment and related products.

For more information on the competition, contact Trish Skeie at Taylor Maid Farms at 707.824.9110 or e-mail protected from spam bots (www.taylormaidfarms.com). The Roshambo Winery tasting room and nationally known gallery featuring contemporary conceptual art, located at 3000 Westside Road in Healdsburg, will be open during the competition for specialty coffee and wine tasting (www.roshambowinery.com).

Barefoot Coffee Roasters is a full-service coffee and espresso bar and artisan organic wholesale coffee roaster located at 5237 Stevens Creek Blvd. in Santa Clara (at the corner of Lawrence Expressway near Bed, Bath and Beyond). Barefoot was voted the Best Coffee House in Silicon Valley by Metro magazine for 2004. Barefoot is famous for their traditional cappuccinos as seen on NBC news. All coffees are roasted fresh in the cafy skilled artisan roasters using old-world, small batch roasting techniques to coax the best flavor out of every coffee. Barefoot Coffee Roasters actively practices and promotes sustainability in both products and practices. Over 85% of Barefoot Coffee Roasters coffees are organic, shade grown and fair traded, resulting in not only better coffee but better living and working conditions for the farmers and their children for successive generations. Barefoot Coffee Roasters was recently certified as a licensed Fair Trade coffee roaster by Transfair USA. The cafeatures computers for Internet access, as well as Wi-Fi Internet access, and serves high-quality coffees, teas, pastries, desserts and chocolates. Barefoot Coffees are served and enjoyed in many fine cafand restaurants throughout the nation. Barefoot Coffee Roasters is proud to be a participating member of the Specialty Coffee Association of America, the Roasters Guild and a founding member of the Barista Guild of America. For more information, please call (408) 248-4500, visit www.barefootcoffeeroasters.com or simply drop by.

Editors Note: Photos and electronic images are available upon request. Reporters and press photographers are welcome to attend the event.

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