AMD 1_ Jake Colling

Crema Schweiz

http://cremagazin.ch/media/crema%20ch%202012_2013/

Instead of watching the normal video, I decided to read a magazine. I figured since the United States Barista Championship was currently moving along, that the European Barista Championship would be moving along as well. Usually magazines such as the Barista Magazine or the blog Sprudge religiously cover the yearly events. To make a tedious story short I read this issue of Crema Schweiz as my AMD.

It came to my surprise that just as many home espresso advertisements were issued in this magazine as there are in the american ones. It showed MyPressi, which they refer to as the "Twist".
Around page 20, they embarked on a journey to Honduras. Most of the language in this magazine is over my head, but I was able to pick out that they went on a trip to a farm to explore. They had found cherries, and explained the farming techniques and practices. On page 26, they analyze the coffee being produced. At least that is what I think they're doing.

On page 28, the authors write about how they stayed up all night trying these coffees, and testing them for you the reader. As they move through them they start getting to higher quality specialty coffee, and it starts to get interesting.

There was a review on a machine called the rocket. It seemed like an espresso machine boiled down the the minimum. Imagine a La Marzocca GS/3, but without all the automatic functions. Finally, on page 42 we get to an interview with the 2009 and 2012 Barista-Schweizer-Meister! This interview I could understand a little better than the rest of the magazine. They talked about what they did, how they prepared and what they made for the competition.

After, they talk about several brewing methods. The Karlbader Kanne reminds me of Bayreuth. They talk about what to expect in each method. Its pretty interesting. Come page 60, and everything starts to become ultra nerd. They start to analyze espresso in every way possible. It gets super cool.

Overall, it was challenging to read it. I didnt understand most of it, but I did get the overall picture. The photos also really helped.