Re: Shoot-out @ Aroma - UPDATE

[Shannon]

Re: Shoot-out @ Aroma - UPDATE

Trinity and I had front row for round 2 and were watching dan - he was a little nervous at never having seen the grinder let alone used it before!! Sinked a couple of espressos before being happy. He finished both drinks with about 1.5 seconda before time - pretty cool.

Im all walked out and heading for bed as Allison has just informed me that we have to make it and the new sheets are in the 8 week olds room who is sleeping...... wish me luck with this one
I will give a bit more of my thoughts tomorrow, but basically it was a good day.

[yeeza]

Re: Re: Shoot-out @ Aroma - UPDATE

Awww shucks.... lets just say Im glad Hazel was a sensory judge only and not watching my pours
We were assigned random machines for the shoot out. So I ended up on the Galatea and Macap M4D that Id never touched before (and was dreading to use), an Espro tamper that Ive never used properly, and Renzos "modified" jug (that he will claim thats why I won). I think Michelle ended up on the machine she didnt want too. It was very nerve racking with 100s of eyes on you (spilling my latte everywhere and my pours gushing). I dont know how I won, I think there must have been some money passed under the table... or someone felt really sorry for me

Great fun though. And I now have an Espro tamper in my quiver woohoo!!!

(Its scary having my photo up there, now everyone knows what I look like)

YeeZa

[mwatt]

Re: Re: Shoot-out @ Aroma - UPDATE

Twas a great day. Good to catch up with lots of CSers! (Just hope none of them saw my incredibly embarrassing shoot-out latte - or should I say FLAT white!)

Seriously, congrats Dan (and sorry I forgot the cups - I realised at Town Hall!!!).

Hope everyonell be able to sleep tonight!

[Thundergod]

Re: Re: Shoot-out @ Aroma - UPDATE

Ben will probably claim he lost because he forgot to take his jug with him when they allocated his machine.
Dont worry Ben it didnt help me.

I was a bit wary of the grinder I got as well but the VBM wasnt as much a problem this year as it was the first time I saw it last year.

I know I didnt place as well as last year (2nd in 2007) because Ben and I compared scores from Hazel and he beat me again (1 point).

Next year Ben...........

[donnas650]

Re: Re: Shoot-out @ Aroma - UPDATE

Awesome work Dan. Sounds like it was a cool comp. I wonder how the espro matches up against the pullman.

What were the final places for all competitors?

[benandfaith]

Re: Shoot-out @ Aroma - UPDATE

Congrats to Dan! I saw those latte pours - 80% milk in the cup, 20% left for the cleaners! But hey, they must have been well textured and taste good! In any case, with Hazel as judge, the best tasting drinks definitely won the day!

I was happy with my espresso, but my latte milk really killed me - should have stuck with my lumpy spud first up effort with better texture. With seconds to go, I completely fluffed my second effort!

As for scoring, we were given back our marking sheets my Hazel, but only TG was willing to discuss it. Renzo played it coy and refused to divulge his score! So no one can really know what the final standings are...

Looking forward to another shoot out (hopefully!) next year!

[benandfaith]

Re: Shoot-out @ Aroma - UPDATE

Ben will probably claim he lost because he forgot to take his jug with him when they allocated his machine.
Dont worry Ben it didnt help me.

...

I know I didnt place as well as last year (2nd in 2007) because Ben and I compared scores from Hazel and he beat me again (1 point).

Next year Ben...........

I was robbed! My jug was -so- the difference between winning and losing! :P

There is always next year... lets see how long we can keep this duel up for - perhaps it will go on for decades!

[HD]

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

[Shannon]

Re: Shoot-out @ Aroma - UPDATE

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

Again well done to the competitors

[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. :-)

[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! :-* :-* :-*

[mwatt]

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

[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!

[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

[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.