First, an update on the upcoming SNS. It will be held on April 10, not April 3.

The 2010 USBC will be held in Anaheim, California, from April 15-18 in conjunction with the 2010 SCAA Exposition. Since five of our most active participants in the SNS will be heading out to represent our region, I thought it would be a fun idea to hold a mock competition, with constructive feedback from other competitors and guest judges.

What is the USBC you ask? Sixty competitors from the United States will vie for the title of United States Barista Champion by making four espressos, four cappuccinos, and four signature drinks for Four Sensory Judges, Two Technical Judges, and One Head Judge in fifteen minutes. Everything the baristas do in those fifteen minutes is scored on a scale of 870 points, including the taste of their drinks, visual appearance of their drinks, overall impression, cleanliness, dedication and passion, consistent dosing and tamping, milk waste, right down to the apron they are wearing.

Lorenzo Perkins, Aaron Blanco, Tyler Wells, Clancy Rose, Jon Meadows, and Isaiah Sheesh will be representing the South Central Region in a couple of weeks, and as such we'd like to give them the opportunity to run through their entire routine. This is a great opportunity for our competitors to hone their skills, while giving everyone the chance to see what barista competitions are all about. Come on down to Caffe Medici on Guadalupe on April 10 at 5 pm to see your barista competitors in action. And as usual, a $10 buy in, winner take all latte art throwdown will round out the evening.

Tell your friends, tell your mom, tell your mom's friends. This is gonna be awesome.

Rock.