Ultimate Barista Mike Love In New York, City Is Awarded A Diedrich Roaster As Overall Points Champion

Portland, Oregon. New York City, the city that never sleeps, is quickly becoming the Coffee Capital of the East Coast and witnessing a home town barista take top honors in the Ultimate Barista Challenge NYC Showdown! The UBC at the Jacob Javitz Convention Center is a featured event in the popular Coffee & Tea Pavilion at the International Restaurant & Foodservice Show of New York on February 28th - March 2nd. Show attendance topped over 16,400.

Reigning National Ultimate Baristi faced one another in a dueling showdown of brewing finesse, technical ability and coffee knowledge to impress Certified UBC Judges who evaluate Taste, Presentation, Skill and Creativity. Diverse categories in Latte Art, Espresso Frappe and Brewed Coffee Challenge baristi to stretch their wings and approach coffee as a chef approaches his craft.

Sherri Johns, Ultimate Barista Challenge Head Judge, "The future of coffee consumption and Specialty Coffee drinks is with the talented Ultimate Baristi who competed at the NY UBC Showdown. Pride of preparation and knowledge based Baristi are turning coffee into an experiential experience for our judges and audience members alike." The UBC is fun, diverse in category and pushes the envelope for coffee consumption everywhere.

Audience member, Chef Michael Giletto, NCFE, FMP, of Cherry Valley Country Club in Skillman, New Jersey, exclaims, "After watching the Barista Challenge in NYC I was very impressed with how the Competition delivers that final cup! The judges are talented and the Barista contestants really take pride in their product."

Mike Love, Ultimate Barista Overall Points Champion, with only a 2 point spread, owner Coffee Labs Roasters, Tarrytown, New York, "Winning a Diedrich Coffee Roaster is the most amazing prize I can think of. It will help me change the way I roast coffee".
In addition, Love earned a 1 Group Astoria Espresso Machine from General Espresso Equipment Corporation, an Everpure Claris Water Filtration System, a Vitamix Blender, a $250 Dr. Smoothie Product Certificate, iSi Northamerica Whippers, CDN Temperature Gauges, Rattleware products from Espresso Supply and $500 of Organic Valley Dairy Products. Ultimate Barista Love also earned titles in Frappe Espresso and Latte Art. All UBC Champions receive the coveted UBC engraved Reg Barber Tamper.

"Vitamix is proud to sponsor the Ultimate Barista Challenge for the third consecutive year, "said Rula Stamatis, Marketing Manager, Vitamix Corporation. "It is an honor for our commercial products to be featured in a competition that highlights the highest quality tools chosen by baristi and a testament to Vitamix ongoing commitment to the coffee and beverage industry."

UBC Best of Brew Champion, Ultimate Barista Sean Marshall of Fusion Beans and Catalina Coffee in Houston, Texas, wowed judges with his flawless presentation, and one judge noted, "serving his brewed French Press coffee from a decanter allowing coffee to slightly cool for better flavor recognition". Marshall also was a Finalist in the Espresso Frappe Challenge. UBC Finalist in the Latte Art & Best of Brew Challenges also included Ultimate Barista Greg Suekoff of Red Rock Coffeehouse of Sedona, Arizona. Ultimate Barista David Buehrer of Tuscany Coffee, Houston, Texas rounded out the list of challengers participating this year.

"Thank you New York!" says Master of Ceremonies and UBC co-founder, Danny Johns. The UBC now goes to Houston, Texas for the Southwest Foodservice Expo on June 27 - 29th.