Friday, March 13, 2009

Local Coffee Roastery/Cafe owner achieves World Certification/recognition

Scott Conary, Owner of Carrboro Coffee Co. (Chapel Hill & Carrboro’s only coffee roastery) & Open Eye Café completed & passed the World Barista Championship Judges Certification course/workshop which took place January 12th in Long Beach, CA.

Scott became 1 of only 13 judges that passed in this U.S. & Canada training and is now one of only 7 judges from the U.S. Certified to judge the World Barista Championship (WBC) held this April 2009 in Atlanta, GA.

30 judges participated in the intensive two-day course that put the entrants thru rigorous testing, both written and practical/hands-on, to evaluate their ability to use these skills & knowledge and apply them to the competition format.

Scott has judged at the last 3 WBC competitions and functioned in all possible roles (sensory, technical & head judge). He has been active in Judging since 2003 where he judged at the first Southeast Regional copmpetition that took place at A Southern Season’s cooking classroom in Chapel Hill.

Those that might be interested in learning more about coffee and related subjects should consider taking either one of his training courses, or coming to the monthly free classes at the Open Eye Café, called The Learning Series; where topics will cycle thru various aspects of the coffee/tea industry and beyond. visit the Open Eye Cafe website for topics & dates (http://www.openeyecafe.com/) .
You can also contact him directly at scott@openeyecafe.com .

All Barista competitions worldwide reward demonstrated excellence in the art and skill of preparing and serving espresso. Entrants must make 12 beverages, including four espressos, four cappuccinos and four original signature drinks of their own creation within 15 minutes in front of a panel of accomplished & certified industry judges. Competitors are judged on taste, beverage presentation, technical skills, coffee knowledge & passion, and overall impression.

WBC Certification Program Description (adapted from the WBC website – link below):
The program for the regional workshops have been developed by the WBC Judges Certification Committee and the WBC Board of DirectorsThe workshop builds upon and tests the experience of those who have been judging in regional and national barista competitions. It includes a variety of training methodologies and includes a series of tests. There is an intensive written exam focusing on the WBC Rules & Regulations, sensory judge responsibilities, technical judge responsibilities, overall scoresheet familiarity, as well as general coffee knowledge (growing regions, processing, varietals and how all those relate to cup quality).

Hands-on practical tests involve coffee tasting exercises for sensory judges, and technical skills for technical judges… all the skills and knowledge required to be successful as a judge.The goals are to drive participation in the national competitions and to continue to build and develop the expertise at the world competition level. The certification tests are designed to be reviewed objectively regardless of experience, reputations, or backgrounds. Certification will be based on a "pass or fail" determination.Each workshop is 2 days long and requires full participation. By conducting the workshops in multiple regions, we will have certified judges in different regions and encourage increased national judging representation at the annual WBC.

http://www.worldbaristachampionship.com/judges.htm

Past WBC Champions from its inception:
Year – Location – Champion, Home country:
2000- Monte Carlo,Monaco - Robert Thoresen, Norway
2001- Miami, U.S.A. - Martin Hildebrandt, Denmark
2002- Oslo, Norway - Fritz Storm, Denmark
2003 -Boston, U.S.A. - Paul Bassett, Australia
2004 -Trieste, Italia - Tim Wendelboe, Norway
2005 -Seattle, U.S.A - Trouls Overdahl Poulsen, Denmark
2006- Berne, Switzerland - Klaus Thomsen, Denmark
2007 -Tokyo, Japan - James Hoffmann, U.K.
2008- Copenhagen, Denmark - Stephen Morrissey, Ireland
2009 - Atlanta, U.S.A.

Local Coffee Professional served as the Head Judge to oversee America’s Best Barista's as they Competed for Title of United States Barista Champion.

Scott Conary; owner of The Open Eye Cafe and Carrboro Coffee Company served as the Head Judge at the US Barista Championship (USBC) in Portland Oregon, March 5-8 2009.

In Portland, top Baristas in the country competed for the national title in this four-day competition . The winner of the USBC will represent the United States in the World Barista Championship in Atlanta, Georgia, April 16-19, 2009 (www.usbc2009.com), hosted by the Specialty Coffee Association of America (SCAA) in conjunction with its annual exposition, which is the largest gathering of coffee professionals in the world.

Out of the original 61 competitiors from around the country, Michael Philips from Intelligentsia coffee in Chicago was the National Champion for 2009.

Competitors are required to make 12 beverages, including four espressos, four cappuccinos and four original signature drinks of their own creation within 15 minutes in front of a panel of accomplished industry judges. Seven USBC-certified judges, including one head judge, two technical judges and four sensory judges, carefully evaluate and score each of the contenders. Competitors were judged on taste, beverage presentation, technical skills, coffee knowledge & passion and overall impression.

About Scott Conary
For the last 14 years Scott has worked in the coffee industry in everything from green coffee buying to coffee roasting & in the cafe making drinks. He travels extensively to work with coffee farmers in their own country, to train them and also learn from them, working toward a sustainable model of coffee consumption. He has served on the Roaster/retailer committee in the SCAA, and is currently on the USBC Committee in an attempt to further the barista and coffee industry. He judges coffee competitions around the world as a USBC & World Barista Competition (WBC) Certified judge.

About the SCAA
The SCAA is the world’s largest coffee trade association dedicated to creating a vibrant specialty coffee community. We recognize, develop and promote specialty coffee by setting and maintaining quality standards for the industry; conducting research on coffee, equipment and perfection of craft; and providing education, training, resources and business services for members. Celebrating 26 years of success, the strength of our organization is reflective of our members who represent more than forty countries and every segment of the Specialty Coffee industry, from coffee growers to coffee roasters and retailers. Together, we ensure our industry continues to thrive. Visit www.scaa.org.

Tuesday, January 6, 2009

Open Eye Café offers elegant Art Tea


Art Tea from the Fujian Province...

Green tea leaves are hand picked & then sewn by hand with flowers grown in Fu’An, Fujian Province … Beautiful & delicious!

2 types available to drink or to bring home:

Jasmine Fairy Maidens
This tea is gently flavored with jasmine flowers and a tall container is necessary to display the lanky Jasmine flower as it unfolds. Tones of Jasmine accent the sweet and vegetal flavor of this tea.

Seven Sons CongratulatingThe green and white tea buds are pressed into a bulb with a red flower. When placed into hot water, the bulb blossoms revealing the red flower surrounded by a white crown. The light tea is a pink color.

Carrboro Coffee Company - Get Local - Get Fresh!

Serving coffee, roasted daily, from Chapel Hill/ Carrboro's only artisan roaster -
Carrboro Coffee Company !
Small batches, roasted fresh every day on site, ensure you get only
the freshest, most cared for coffee around.
Roasted in Carrboro, passionately handcrafted by roasters with over 25 years experience.
It doesn't get more local!

Free PBS Community Film Screening at Open Eye Cafe

Groundbreaking Free Community Screenings of PBS Programming Launches Fourth Season in Chapel Hill / Carrboro at Open Eye Café.
Community Cinema Screening Series Brings Local Perspective to National Issues with Feature Films on Racial Injustice, Gang Warfare, America's National Debt and the Military's "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" Policy, Among Others.
The Independent Television Service (ITVS), co-presenter of the Emmy Award–winning PBS series Independent Lens, today announced a fourth consecutive season of its groundbreaking Community Cinema program.
A free monthly screening series engaging communities through film, Community Cinema connects people with local resources and organizations, such as Open Eye Café, on important social issues in more than 50 cities across the country.
Once a month from September through May, Community Cinema presents preview screenings of nine Independent Lens episodes in key cultural and civic spaces across the country.

The Community Cinema screenings in Chapel Hill / Carrboro take place at Open Eye Café in Downtown Carrboro. Each screening is followed by a lively panel discussion or other presentation that showcases local community organizations, resources and opportunities to get involved.

Screenings take place about one month prior to the national television broadcast of each film on PBS. The Film Series will be shown at Open Eye Café every 2nd Thursday of the month Panel discussion to follow. More info

The Learning Series: Coffee Classes & more at Open Eye Cafe


The Open Eye Café & Carrboro Coffee Company Present: The Learning Series Coffee Classes & More at Open Eye Café Every 3rd Thursday of the month @ 7pm An Hour or so of Facts & Fun! Open to Our Community, Free of Charge Topics will cycle thru the months with offerings such as:
Coffee Tasting 101
Coffee Equipment & Home Use
Coffee Cupping
Espresso 101 at Home & in the Café
Tea Tasting 101


Please RSVP to coffeescott@gmail.com as space is limited.

Back Patio Now Open !!!

Come enjoy the new outdoor space provided for the community by the Open Eye Café. The Patio is open during normal Cafe business hours. It is located out "back" along Roberson street (entrance from inside the Cafe only). Simply follow the hallway (and signs) as it curves to the left.