Just how intense is the competition among the country’s top baristas? You can find out for yourself with “A Seat at the Table,” a tasting experience next weekend at St. Louis’ own Blueprint Coffee.
The local specialty coffee roaster is preparing to send company co-founder Nora Brady to the U.S. Coffee Championship in Portland later this month for the Barista Competition. Ahead of contest, Blueprint is hosting a one-night-only tasting experience at its Delmar Loop location (6225 Delmar Blvd.) on Friday, April 14.
There will be three 45-minutes sessions (6:30, 7:30 and 8:30 p.m.) with room for 12 guests each to sit at the table and experience Brady’s competition routine. The rare opportunity will allow guests to sample the same complex specialty coffee drinks Brady will present to the judges in Portland. Each session includes an espresso course, a milk course and a signature beverage course, with tastings offered to seated guests.
In addition, participants will take home a 10-ounce bag of the Kawo Kamina Anaerobic Natural Process Ethiopian coffee beans Brady will use at the competition.
Brady, who co-founded Blueprint Coffee in 2013 with a small group of former baristas, has been competing for more than 10 years. In 2014, she advanced to the final round and placed sixth in the U.S. Barista Competition.
Blueprint has three locations in St. Louis, including the Delmar Loop, Watson Road in South St. Louis and the High Low in Grand Center.
Tickets to “A Seat at the Table” are $50 each and can be purchased here.
