I am pleased to announce that with a couple of hitches and my very own style of haphazard organization the Northwest Montana Barista Jam 2013 was a blast. Colter collaborated with 5 Sparrows Cafe Products and Montana Coffee Traders for a super good time on the afternoon of May 19th.
When we originally hatched the plan the idea was to have coffee types all get together in a comfortable, informal setting. Then we added a few tables with different pour over methods such as aero press, Chemex, and Hario pour over. Across the room from the pour over bars was our vintage La Marzocco who got to come out to play for the day. It was good to see her. Ever since Kiki moved in downtown we don't get to play with the sweet double group head much. Did you know we call our downtown machine Kiki? Yeah.
All in all everyone who attended had a great time. Or else they put on an excited face to make me feel better. The highlight was the latte art throwdown. After all the donations were collected the competitors were playing for $150 cold hard cash money. It was intense. We did an applause-o-meter and the final tie breaking pour off was done with the spectators outside allowing the finalist baristas, who were Allison Stayer of Colter and Matthew Bussard of MCT, to concentrate wholly on the task at hand. The competition was stiff and all the baristas involved brought their A game and everyone was a definite threat to the crown but in the end Matthew Bussard of Montana Coffee Traders took the title, the cash, the Espresso Parts Northwest swag and, most coveted, Pump Pot Dolly (see photo).
We are already looking forward to another event and ideas of new components and activities are sparking. Thanks to everyone who made it great!
The Barista Jam also marked a bit of a sad occasion. It was the final time several of Colter's baristas would still be Colter girls and boys. Allison, Richie and Ty have transitioned out and I have bowed out and taken off my management sash and barista nametag. Like I said, a bit sad, but also very exciting to see some of our beloved employees finding their bliss, even if it doesn't include being on our payroll. As for myself I can spend more time with my ping pong ball of a kid while still offering up fbook updates and blog posts. I can 98% guarantee that I will pick up a shift here and there so y'all will still be slurpin' my swill. I just can't say goodbye. This is my bliss. Don't tell the head cheese I said that.
Also, I know I have said this before and I really hope what I'm about to say becomes reality. I have some serious confidence this time around that sweet custom designed t-shirts will be on the shelves soon! And by soon I mean soon in Head Cheese time which is much more of a loose term than normal people. It's like when a woman is 6 months pregnant and someone says she's going to have a baby "soon." Yeah. Soon for you, buddy. There is nothing soon about those last four months. Yes, four, the nine month pregnancy is a hugely disconcerting and disappointing myth. So this t-shirt baby is going to be here "soon". We're gestating it as I type. Be excited.
I leave you with this:
A nun, a priest, a Scotsman, an Irishman, a blond and a rabbi walk into a bar.
The bartender looks up and says, "What is this? Some sort of joke?"
My kid's head is stuck between the wall and the couch. Gotta go.
