Alterra Coffee recently announced that barista trainer Scott Lucey has been named the winner of the 2009 Great Lakes Regional Barista Competition.
Lucey traveled to Chicago to compete for the title of Great Lakes Regional Barista Champion during Coffee Fest Chicago at Navy Pier.
The event takes place annually and brings the best and brightest baristas together to prepare 12 espresso drinks for four judges in under 15 minutes.
Lucey presented a menu of drinks that featured organic micro-lot Colombian coffee from farmer Nelson Melo. Alterra purchased Melo’s entire crop earlier this year.
"I’m competing with Nelson Melo’s coffee because I believe it’s one of the best coffees in the world, and it will score well,” said Lucey. “At the end of the day what’s most important is that everyone knows that there’s a great amount of work going into quality coffee, beginning with the farmer and ending with the consumer. Buying specialty coffee is an important step into supporting the model of quality that we live by everyday at Alterra, and those who have tasted this coffee know it’s unique greatness."
The unique flavor of Melo’s coffee was highlighted in Lucey’s signature beverage “Liquid Swords," a drink featuring layers of Nelson Melo espresso, cream, honey and fresh-squeezed grapefruit juice.
The Great Lakes Regional Barista Competition is the Specialty Coffee Association of America’s regional competition for coffee professionals from Wisconsin, Indiana, Illinois, Michigan, Ohio, and Minnesota.
Lucey won with the highest score of 687 points. He will get the opportunity to compete in the United States Barista Championship in Portland, Ore., March 5-8.
Lucey has worked for Alterra since 2002, and also serves as the executive director for the Specialty Coffee Association of America’s Barista Guild. Alterra will offer free samples of the award winning “Liquid Swords” on Thursday, Feb 26 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. at Alterra Humboldt and on Saturday, Feb. 28th from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the Alterra café at 2211 N. Prospect Ave., Milwaukee
