Thanks to Our City's Great Baristas - And Those They Serve

Last night Pittsburgh's barista community proved it could hold its own against any city when it comes to enthusiasm for coffee and espresso.  More than three dozen local pro and home baristas came together for a night fueled by great coffees, terrific skills and wonderful people (ok... and some beer).

It was the first time so many people from so many different shops (10) came together in one place - joined by more than a half dozen local home baristas and roasters - specifically for the purpose of talking, brewing and enjoying coffee.

We've thanked everyone who participated in the first annual Pittsburgh "Merry Baristmas" event on other forums and on the event blog.

We also like to thank you, the discriminating Pittsburgh coffee and espresso consumer, for caring enough about good coffee to make places like Aldo Coffee, Beaver Falls Coffee and Tea , Beleza, Coffee Tree Roasters, Cuppy's, Espresso d'Milan, La Prima, Simpatico, The Vault and 21st Street Coffee possible. 

Your continued and growing interest in - and demand for - quality coffees and teas fuels the drive of baristas at each of these shops to become better. 

And while our staff might have the big studio photo and the acclaim from Pittsburgh magazine, last night they were simply part of a larger gathering of the real "best baristas in Pittsburgh" -- the pros and amateurs for whom coffee isn't just caffeine, but a great tasting beverage worth both study and care in preparation and presentation.

Comments

[Melanie]

Holy cow, what an IMPRESSIVE group of coffee people: the knowledge (and fun) rivaled stuff I have seen at regional and national events. In Pittsburgh. Who knew? (Besides all of you who were there.)
Thank you all so much for sharing. I think we are all a lot richer for the knowledge and comraderie shared.
And what? No mention of Matt sweeping both The Gauntlet AND the Latte Art Throwdown against some pretty stiff competition? Matt rocks. And John gave him a run for the money.
And the HB's, it occurred to me they have some of the best palates and machine knowledge around. And howsabout Len, representing home baristas in The Gauntlet, impressive showing, and all while keeping an eye on the Steelers game.
Thanks again to everyone for their friendship and generosity.

[Phil]

Thanks again for having the foresight and wherewithal to put this thing together. Plus money for CoffeeKids, it's really hard to go wrong.

Next time I'll bring a sixer of Iron. For palate cleansing.

[Rich]

Here we thought we were doing the righteous thing with the PBR Tall Boys...

[Rich]

Here we thought we were doing the righteous thing with the PBR Tall Boys...

[Phil]

Gotta buy local, Rich. Local.

[Rich]

I knew you were going to say that.

When is IC going organic? ;-)

[ward]

Can't go organic cause it's metallic. It's that steel city thing.

Thanks so much for hosting the event. Looking forward to the good that will come from this first event.

[Luke]

We had a good time- thanks again for putting this together.