Lemuel Butler Wins SCAA Southeast Regional Barista Competition
Lemuel Butler – from Counter Culture Coffee in Durham, North Carolina – surpassed the competition and dazzled the judges on his way to winning the Specialty Coffee Association of America’s (SCAA) 2007 Southeast Regional Barista Competition (SERBC.) By winning this year’s SERBC, Butler becomes the first two-time winner of the annual Southeast coffee event . He also won the SERBC in 2005. Octane Coffee baristas Ben Helfen and Danielle Glasky from Atlanta finished second and third. The win qualifies Butler to participate at the semi-finals of the 2008 United States Barista Championship during the SCAA Conference & Exhibition in Minneapolis on May 2-5. His USBC travel and hotel accommodations will also be provided for by SERBC hosts Monin Gourmet Flavorings, Astoria General Espresso Equipment and Ambex. The competition is one of 10 regional events the SCAA will host this year leading up to the USBC. The events encourage and recognize excellence and achievement in the art and skill of serving and preparing espresso. Southeast Regional Barista Competition entrants prepared and served 12 coffee beverages, including four espressos, four cappuccinos and four original signature drinks of their own choosing within a 15 timeframe. The competitors were judged on station cleanliness, taste, beverage presentation, technical skills and total impression
be the primary complaint and/or be associated with other6Surgical Therapy tadalafil online.
. The event included highly trained and accomplished baristas from Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, Mississippi, North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee, Virginia and West Virginia. Butler said, “Winning this year’s Southeast Regional Barista Competition has been extremely gratifying from both a personal and professional perspective. I was more than honored to be on the same stage with some of the great baristas from throughout the Southeast and am very much looking forward to representing the region once again at next year’s USBC.” According to Butler, his signature drink was created to honor regular customers he served while working as a barista in Chapel Hill, N.C. In addition to a dollop of honey and three espresso shots, Butler’s coffee concoction – called the Beacon – featured a cucumber slice, lemon juice and freshly shaved ginger. “SCAA congratulates Lemuel Butler on his impressive win at this year’s annual Southeast Regional Barista Competition,” said SCAA President Mary Petitt. “In addition to recognizing the significant barista skills Lemuel demonstrated during the event, we commend him and his fellow competitors for demonstrating such a deep commitment to their profession.” Further information: www.scaa.org
