One of the Ansley Starbucks baristas, Jill Hames, is playing the role of Little Edie in the Actors Express production of Grey Gardens. I can’t wait to see this. It opens Aug. 27 and plays through Oct. 10.
(Photo by Cliff Bostock)
I’ve been writing at the Ansley Starbucks today, as usual. The baristas tell me that one of the regulars here grabbed their tip jar, containing about $75, and bolted out the door. How rude.
It’s gonna be brutal!
For three days, Feb. 13-15, baristas from throughout the Southeast will be trying to out-cappuccino one another for the title of best in the region. The event — open to the public 9 a.m.-5 p.m. — will be held at the Counter Culture Coffee training center in the King Plow Arts Center (887 W. Marietta St.).
The rules:
Entrants must make 12 beverages, including four espressos, four cappuccinos and four original signature drinks of their own creation within 15 minutes in front of a panel of accomplished industry judges. Competitors are judged on taste, beverage presentation, technical skills, station cleanliness and overall impression.
The winner will compete for the national title at the U.S. Barista Championship in Portland, March 5-8. The winner of that competition will compete in the World Championship right here in Atlanta, April 16-19.
Sponsors of the local competition are Everything Coffee & Tea Company, Counter Culture Coffee and Batdorf & Bronson Coffee Roasters.
(Photo courtesy of Icanhascheezburger.com)
The baristas at the Ansley Starbucks were all, um, eagerly anticipating the much publicized closing of more than 7,000 stores for three hours at 5:30 p.m. Tuesday. The purpose was for all employees to undergo training ordered by Howard Schultz, the company’s recently reappointed CEO, to recapture the “soul of the past,” according to the New York Times.
Actually, Schultz wouldn’t call it training. He told employees via a video message: “This is not about training. This is about the love and compassion and commitment that we all need to have for the customer.†Oh yeah! In a memo a year ago, he talked about losing “much of the romance and theater†at the shops that seem to dot the corner of every urban intersection.
Actually, the Times reports that sales have been slacking at Starbucks and the company is closing 100 shops, including one here on North Highland Avenue. It has also cut back expansion plans.
I asked the Starbucks baristas Tuesday what there was to learn about making espresso when the shop uses an automated machine. One explained that the barista can still control certain factors that affect the taste of the drink. One of those, certainly, is the steaming of milk. It’s very true that some baristas seem more talented at that than others.
