Tip Your Barista, They Might Inherit the Earth - Part II

Since Method took its last sip of caffeine, and after the buzz faded off the lips of its baristas, a new coffee shop has emerged: Octane Emory. Octane gained its reputation at its Marietta Street location near Georgia Tech even before Danielle Glasky won 1st place at the 2009 Southeast Regional Barista Competition, and Crystal Rodgers took second. So it was a good fit to merge the talents of Dale Donchey and Jordan Chambers of Method. While, I miss my fresh Intelligensia coffee (I'm a huge Black Cat fan) I have found some nice Counter Culture options. For the most part, the merger has been seamless,albeit the table situation took some getting used to.

The 2010 Southeast Regional Barista Competition brought out the talents of Aurora Coffee barista Chandler Rentz. He took second place in the competition this year. Chandler is a barista at Aurora (Atlanta's oldest independent coffee shop) and better known as a roaster/trainer with Batdorf & Bronson coffee. I make my rounds to both Aurora Virginia Highland and Little Five locations. Octane barista Dale Donchey took third place, and Dustin Mattson took fifth. That's quite a lot of talent coming out of Atlanta in the last couple of years. Danielle has moved on the NYC, and new talent is emerging from Octane and Aurora. What stands out most at these competitions, and note this year participation in the regional competition more than doubled, is the incredible camaraderie among all the baristas.

The barista culture isn't about back-biting competition. It's about the mastery of the craft. Like any artisan, baristas take great pride in making the perfect cup of coffee, no matter what form that might take. Latte art expresses more than just an ability to move steamed milk through espresso, it's become like the Zen sand sculptures. As many of you may know, the Zen sand sculptures are a Tibetan tradition to teach perfection through a singular repetitive act, while at the same time educating students to appreciate the transitory nature of the material world. A latte (cappuccino, macchiato, espresso, or coffee) disappears as quickly as the sand sculptures are blown away, yet both were created with great care and artistry.

I find it so interesting that the barista culture has taken off, with baristas choosing to perfect this craft even with higher degrees to do something that might pay more. I don't find it surprising. The trend started way before the economic crisis, and yet those CEOs and high-dollar folks are learning a little what these baristas have known for a while. Life is about living, and living isn't about driving the Lexus, wearing Prada, and jetsetting to ends of the earth. It's about finding nirvana right where you are. Meditation leaders have been touting this for ages. In fact, recent scientific studies on psilocybin to treat depression and post traumatic syndrome (http://www.nytimes.com/2010/04/12/science/12psychedelics.html?scp=1&sq=Psilocybin&st=cse) have found that meditation has the same positive effects. What is meditation but giving full attention to something --- you can meditate with your eyes closed or with them opened. Zen monks have mastered both. Hyper-focus on your inner world, a task, or a place offers a sense of well-being that expands into a kind of wonderment. There are many paths to enlightenment, and I believe the baristahood just might be one of them. So, please support your local baristas, and have a cup of joe. Cheer the winners of the 2010 SERBC on as they go to the United States Barista Competition in Anaheim, CA this weekend. You can even watch it live on the internet. For more information go to: http://www.scaa.org/. Who knows some of their mystical magic might rub off on you.