Re: Shoot-out @ Aroma - UPDATE

[DiBort]

Shoot-out @ Aroma - UPDATE

Hi Everyone!

This Saturday at Di Bartoli 10:00-2:00, the one and the only Champion Home Barista Dan "Yeeza", will be pulling shots in our Espresso Bar, recreating the flavors that made him win the shoot-out! Presentation wise? maybe this time well get the opportunity to see the milk going in the cup ...

Join us for a relaxed Saturday and taste Yeezas shots of our new our new PNG Kimel!

Ofra

[mbg963]

Re: Aroma Shoot-out

Thank You!

Michelle, Ben, Dan, Theodore, Marc, Ana, Peter, Nathan, Adrian & John, thank you for your contribution to the Aroma Festival!
Youve done a wonderful job, each person in your roll, with passion, dedication and professionalism many baristas and retailers should aspire for. We would never have been able to put up such a dynamic, eye catching and a professional presentation of our stand without you. Ive posted few pics on flickr, please feel free to add tags or comments for any of them, would upload more in the coming few days:

http://www.flickr.com/photos/dibartoli/

Please do make your way to the store and collect your appreciation token, if havent done so already!
Hope you had a blast! unfortunately, Dan, the intensity does come with a price of some publicity by its side....

Well whaddya know seems I had my picture took while at the DiBartoli stand. ;D

[yeeza]

Re: Aroma Shoot-out

unfortunately, Dan, the intensity does come with a price of some publicity by its side....

? Do you mean besides on CS? :-/

Speaking of that, who was that dude (not Adrian) taking all those photos? The one I had to sign that media release thingo for?

[DiBort]

Aroma Shoot-out

Thank You!

Michelle, Ben, Dan, Theodore, Marc, Ana, Peter, Nathan, Adrian & John, thank you for your contribution to the Aroma Festival!
Youve done a wonderful job, each person in your roll, with passion, dedication and professionalism many baristas and retailers should aspire for. We would never have been able to put up such a dynamic, eye catching and a professional presentation of our stand without you. Ive posted few pics on flickr, please feel free to add tags or comments for any of them, would upload more in the coming few days:

http://www.flickr.com/photos/dibartoli/

Please do make your way to the store and collect your appreciation token, if havent done so already!
Hope you had a blast! unfortunately, Dan, the intensity does come with a price of some publicity by its side....

[yeeza]

Re: Shoot-out @ Aroma - UPDATE

Congrats to Dan! I saw those latte pours - 80% milk in the cup, 20% left for the cleaners!

;D I was just knocking the top froth off my texturing haha. And cos the drip tray on those Galateas are so small I only had one place to pour it - that was the ground : :-[

That was so embarrassing. :-[

Re: Shoot-out @ Aroma - UPDATE

Well done to all the other guys to match it with Renzo, who had earlier made Julie and I the best coffee we had all day - 2 beautiful doppio ristretto piccolo lattes.

My wife and I also partook of a similar offering from Renzo. This was the one coffee we remembered with fondness after the Expo. What was that secret blend Renzo?

I have only been to Di Bartolis about 4-5 times a couple of months back but both Renzo and Ofra welcomed my wife and I as if we were regular customers and by name as well. By far the friendliest stand we visited all day!

[GregJW]

Re: Shoot-out @ Aroma - UPDATE

;D I spent half of my life trying to get out of Sydney and once achieved have never looked back. Great place to visit - occasionally. We went up for the Food and Wine show a couple of weeks ago which sort of ruled out a repeat visit so soon. THAT visit made us realise how "ruralised" weve become. Crowds of people, the jostle, and the concrete started to overwhelm us in a very short time.

Agreed. Its a great place to visit - occasionally. We love our "rural" lifestyle, whilst still being close enough to drive up for a special occasion (like Aroma Festival!) The crowds in the streets would have been unbearable (even though The Rocks/Circular Quay is a magical setting) if it wasnt for the great stuff happening in the Overseas Terminal. (I almost felt sorry for the masses queuing up for bad $1 coffee when we could just go back upstairs and ask Scottie Callaghan or Jack Hanna to pull us another shot - worlds best kept secret!)

And thanks, Hazel, but I feel a bit sheepish and apologise for making you taste my efforts and waste your beautiful beans. Particularly my latte - BLAH! Just couldnt get it together. Its probably the worst cup Ive ever made! ;D ;D

Thats some beautiful equipment, but in my hands it felt so foreign. It was kind of nice to get up next morning and make a couple of nice lattes on my little Lelit machine (just to show myself I could still do it) - without all the bling of the Giotto blinding me, the Mazzer doser throwing left, the tamper having too much play, the shower screen being too low for my accustomed up-dosing technique, the wands and knobs being everywhere (they seemed to get more and more in the way as it went on!), everyone looking on and the clock ticking down (I didnt know 5 mins could go so fast!). I wont go on, but it felt like being asked to play something on the piano for everyone - and I cant play piano (unless chopsticks was considered acceptable :P).

Well done to all the other guys to match it with Renzo, who had earlier made Julie and I the best coffee we had all day - 2 beautiful doppio ristretto piccolo lattes. And thanks for your patience and assistance, Ofra. I hope you had a successful day - you deserve it with all the work youd put into it.

Greg

[Thundergod]

Re: Shoot-out @ Aroma - UPDATE

Hey, you guys were amazing!

<SNIP>

I know I roasted the stuff, but you guys did delicious justice to it. Thank you so much.

Keep em shootin
Hazel

Thanks HD.

Much appreciated.

Thanks also for taking time to do the judging.

bout time I made coffee for you for a change.

:-*

[Wrecker]

Re: Shoot-out @ Aroma - UPDATE

Wish I wasnt south of the border when events like this come up. Of course, its ONLY events like this that make me wish I wasnt south of the border

;D I spent half of my life trying to get out of Sydney and once achieved have never looked back. Great place to visit - occasionally. We went up for the Food and Wine show a couple of weeks ago which sort of ruled out a repeat visit so soon. THAT visit made us realise how "ruralised" weve become. Crowds of people, the jostle, and the concrete started to overwhelm us in a very short time.

[dsgfh]

Re: Re: Shoot-out @ Aroma - UPDATE

In my mind this is how the pro-barista comps should be run. Or at the very least there should be a seperate category for it. Judging purely based on the talent of the barista, not based on the roaster & support crew they work with. Give everyone a common bean & some setup time & see who can produce the best cup from the coffee theyre given to work with.

Congrats to all who participated. Wish I wasnt south of the border when events like this come up. Of course, its ONLY events like this that make me wish I wasnt south of the border

[benandfaith]

Re: Shoot-out @ Aroma - UPDATE

Hey, you guys were amazing!

Such willingness to be thrown in the deep end with:
1) a grinder you havent worked with much (you dont know the speed, the throw, how the bloody thing works, how much impact an adjustment has, this is a biggie)
2) an espresso machine you havent worked with much (how low the showerscreen hangs, how much to flush, steam pressure, etc)
3) beans you havent worked with much
4) be totally exposed to the public who can see the minutiae of your routine (and many of them "know" what youre up to)
5) a very short time not only to familiarise yourself with the machinery but to dial-in the grinder while youre at it
6) a very short time to produce an espresso and a latte,

and yet Ive tasted some really yummy espressos: one was distinctly almondy, one was full-bodied and complex with a really interesting finish, one with a crema that seemed to extend beyond the bottom of the cup, and I got all of this within the few seconds I had to judge these drinks. Contrast this to my experience a couple of years ago when I judged a pro-barista comp - I came home green at the gills and threw up. No such misfortune this time.

I know I roasted the stuff, but you guys did delicious justice to it. Thank you so much.

Keep em shootin
Hazel

Assuming I was part of the some, I too am very pleased by your comments! Its great to know we home hacks (well, some of us anyway) are doing ok!

Thanks for taking the time out to come and judge the shootout!

Re: Shoot-out @ Aroma - UPDATE

Hey, you guys were amazing!

Such willingness to be thrown in the deep end with:
1) a grinder you havent worked with much (you dont know the speed, the throw, how the bloody thing works, how much impact an adjustment has, this is a biggie)
2) an espresso machine you havent worked with much (how low the showerscreen hangs, how much to flush, steam pressure, etc)
3) beans you havent worked with much
4) be totally exposed to the public who can see the minutiae of your routine (and many of them "know" what youre up to)
5) a very short time not only to familiarise yourself with the machinery but to dial-in the grinder while youre at it
6) a very short time to produce an espresso and a latte,

and yet Ive tasted some really yummy espressos: one was distinctly almondy, one was full-bodied and complex with a really interesting finish, one with a crema that seemed to extend beyond the bottom of the cup, and I got all of this within the few seconds I had to judge these drinks. Contrast this to my experience a couple of years ago when I judged a pro-barista comp - I came home green at the gills and threw up. No such misfortune this time.

I know I roasted the stuff, but you guys did delicious justice to it. Thank you so much.

Keep em shootin
Hazel

Youve got no idea how much this means to me Hazel!  :-* :-* :-*

Ditto

[yeeza]

Re: Shoot-out @ Aroma - UPDATE

Hey, you guys were amazing!

Such willingness to be thrown in the deep end with:
1) a grinder you havent worked with much (you dont know the speed, the throw, how the bloody thing works, how much impact an adjustment has, this is a biggie)
2) an espresso machine you havent worked with much (how low the showerscreen hangs, how much to flush, steam pressure, etc)
3) beans you havent worked with much
4) be totally exposed to the public who can see the minutiae of your routine (and many of them "know" what youre up to)
5) a very short time not only to familiarise yourself with the machinery but to dial-in the grinder while youre at it
6) a very short time to produce an espresso and a latte,

and yet Ive tasted some really yummy espressos: one was distinctly almondy, one was full-bodied and complex with a really interesting finish, one with a crema that seemed to extend beyond the bottom of the cup, and I got all of this within the few seconds I had to judge these drinks. Contrast this to my experience a couple of years ago when I judged a pro-barista comp - I came home green at the gills and threw up. No such misfortune this time.

I know I roasted the stuff, but you guys did delicious justice to it. Thank you so much.

Keep em shootin
Hazel

Youve got no idea how much this means to me Hazel! :-* :-* :-*

[donnas650]

Re: Re: Shoot-out @ Aroma - UPDATE

Sounds like you guys did an awesome job. Wish I could have made it to Sydney. Who knows. Maybe next year. :-)

[Shannon]

Re: Shoot-out @ Aroma - UPDATE

^^^^^^^^there is probably the highest praise your gonna get. ^^^^^^^^^^

Again well done to the competitors