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Intelligentsia’s Kyle Glanville Wins United States Barista Competition

Kyle Glanville at the moment of announcement.

Kyle Glanville posing with Tracy Allen, USBC Chair.

Kyle Glanville proudly displaying the trophy for all to see.

MINNEAPOLIS–The nation’s top espresso-makers battled it out Monday to be called best-of-the-best, but it was Kyle Glanville of Intelligentsia Coffee & Tea who took home top honors. Glanville won the Specialty Coffee Association of America’s (SCAA) highly competitive 2008 United States Barista Championship (USBC). The heated competition took place at SCAA’s 20th Annual Conference & Exhibition, May 2 – 5 in Minneapolis, Minnesota.

As the industry’s most watched contest for coffeehouse professionals, the USBC encourages and recognizes achievement in the art and skill of espresso-drink preparation and service.

During the competition, the nation’s best baristas created some of the world’s finest coffee concoctions. Challengers prepared and served 12 orders–four espressos, four cappuccinos and four original signature drinks of their own creation–all within a 15-minute timeframe. As they readied their coffee beverages, contestants engaged the audience and explained their actions and selections while expertly working the competition’s La Marzocco espresso machines.

Seven USBC-certified judges, including one head judge, two technical judges and four sensory judges, carefully evaluated and scored each of the contenders. Judges focused on station cleanliness, taste, beverage presentation, technical skills and total impression.

As the 2008 United States Barista Champion, Glanville received the highest national honor for a barista, a trophy, $1,000 in cash, and an all-expenses paid trip to the 2008 World Barista Championship in Copenhagen, Denmark, June 19 – 22, 2008, hosted by the Specialty Coffee Association of Europe and held at its “Wonderful Coffee” event.

Glanville works as Manager of Espresso R&D at Intelligentsia’s Roasting Works in Los Angeles where the company also operates a café in the Silverlake neighborhood.  Intelligentsia also has a Roasting Works and three stores in Chicago, where the company was founded in 1995. Intelligentsia, renowned for the creation of its Direct Trade, a buying process ensuring economic and environmental sustainability for coffee farmers, also sells coffee online at www.intelligentsiacoffee.com and to cafes, restaurants, and markets through its Wholesale group.