On this nice blog http://bluebottlecoffee.blogspot.com/2005/08/reversi-ring-around-rosi.html
I’ve found a nice picture of a strange latte art.
Believe me, I tried a lot of times but i doesn work for me.
I think he started with foamed milk in the cup and after that he poured his (double) espresso in the milk jug.
Then it should be possible to pour the milk-espresso mix in to the milk in the cup…
It should be working but not for me…
take care,
Jeroen
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Sorry, i can’t upload any pictures at the moment. Please visit my FLICKR album here http://flickr.com/photos/75338732@N00/?saved=1
Last Friday was competition time.
A well organized event took place in The Hague.
The event called ‘Latte Party’ was an initiative from ‘de Haagse Cultuurnacht’
(The Hague Culture night) and espresso distributor ESW.
I competed together with 11 other baristi. We had to make 2 capp’s and 2 latte arts.
Although the organizer Henk told us ‘just to make a party’ there was a serious jury with serious judge forms. So there were some different expectations.
I was well prepared and brought some colors with me. My plan was to make something with The Hague in it with the colors green and yellow. But because of the serious level of judging I decided to keep it simple and respectful. And not to paint with colors on the good espresso and milk.
I had to wait very long. I was number 11 in the row. And because the party started at 10.00 In the evening I had to wait till 01.00 nigh time. And the temperature, my god I was sweating all over. Butt I’m very happy to tell you that I’ve won the competition. Butt I have to be honest, it was bad… very bad.
I don’t know what it was, maybe the heat, maybe the time but the latte art couldn’t impress.
Before the competition there was a kind of a jam session and believe me; we made the most beautiful latte’s ever.
But during the competition the level in general was really bad.
But OK the atmosphere was perfect, there was beer, a DJ and a very nice speaker and a lot of baristi. So another good and new initiative.
We are rocking in the Netherlands…
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Of course I’ve visited the ‘European world cup barista championship’ what about that name? 
World cup and European… something’s wrong about that name. And there was more wrong than just the name. At least it’s strange that the organization, which is the same as the WBC, invited people to pay € 75, 00 and let them compete. In the WBC each country can deliver his national champ.
Please see the rules on this site:
https://keysshopping.securesites.com/worldcup/hamburg/EWCBCRulesBooklet.PDF
But Ok all the competitors did their best and it was nice to see them doing their performance. On Saturday and Monday they did the semi finals which I didn’t see. 3 countries have reached the finals: Germany, Italy and Poland.
The German guy won the finals and of course he was very happy with that. He and his ‘Double Eye’ team spent a lot of time in this competition and even closed the shop for two day to join this event with the whole team.
Second place for Poland. Martin from Green coffee had a very nice performance. His presentation was a bit a copy of Troels in Seattle. After a good semi final he did a good job in the finals. In his mélange he had 100% Arabica with mostly Nicaragua coffee.
Third place for Italy. Giordanino was trained by Andrea. The formerly Italian champ. He was my favorite. Because of his Italian style. He was relaxed and looked like he stepped out of the ‘Donny Brasco’ mafia movie. Nice latte arts he made but also some mistakes. No dosing, strange tamping and not to clean. But his presentation was good. He did it in Italian and Roberto from Brasilia did the translating.
I was a nice competition to see, but the level was not the European top. Remember that most World champs are from Europe. They were not there because they prefer the Nordic cup for this event. I think they made the right choice… 
The winners of the latte art competition. unfortunately i have no pictures of the results. If I receive them by mail I will publish them.
From left to right:
Giordanino from Italy – 3th place
Vlad Kozhokar from Russia 1th place and European champion
Nora Smahelova from Germany – 2th place
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Yesterday I visited the 2005 Tea and Coffee World cup Exhibition & Symposium in Hamburg Germany. After a 4,5 hour drive I was very happy to smell the scent of espresso. Near the entrée I found this mobile coffee bar, looks like our own Dutch Mobiccino.
The first person I met in the exhibition was Willy Hansen, coffee trainer and expert from Solberg & Hansen Norway. I’m always 
very interested in his stories and opinions. If you ever have the change, talk to this man because he always looks at his own pure way to barista techniques.
The other person on the picture is Felix Mini. Coffee importer from Luxembourg. Felix served excellent espresso from a nice Mirage machine.
At the MAHLKÖNIG booth I met Holger Welz from ‘Dalla Corte’ espresso machines. 
Henk Langkemper was interested in his story aswel.
He showed me an impressive 3 group machine. Each group had his own 500 ml boiler with a temperature control of 0,1 degrees. It also had a boiler for thee and steam with an automatic cleaning system. The reason that they showed their machine at the MAHLKÖNIG booth was because of a grind control system. The machine was connected to the MAHLKÖNIG k60 grinder. I’m not sure what it did, but as soon as a know I will tell you.
Holger gave me some specifications of the Dalla Corte machine…
Direct control of temperature of each group and of the boiler through an electronic system which guarantees that temperature is controlled at the tenth of degree
Groups and boiler are programmed independently through an external programmer
Remarkable energy saving
Reliable product, with simple solutions for any kind of technical service or intervention
All the parameters are programmed through an external palmer or through a remote control system (RCS)
And then I have drunk a nice espresso from Fabian Schmit. He showed some nice latte arts. To bad that he didn’t compete at the latte art championships. Fabian made a new and realy nice looking tamper. Steel with carbid. (sorry no picture)
After a nice chat with Roberto Pregel from Brasilia machines, about his ‘on demand’ griders and a barista exchange in the future I searched my car again for a long trip back to Holland.
Overall I really enjoined the exhibition. Not to big but very interesting exhibitors. A lot of green coffee and tea. Nice machines, nice cups and a lot more. Looking forward to the Milan exhibition already.
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OK, it’s glass so it may be not the perfect material.
But hey, isnt it a nice shape?
I realy like this BODUM glas. i’f tried it and did’nt find any negative points.
Ok, maybe one… it’s glass!
Ofcourse quality is most important, but sometimes is presentation as much important as quality…
Jeroen
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Last Monday we did a real nice ‘Latte Art’ workshop for ‘Friesche Vlag’
Our biggest milk factory.
It the 3th time that they organize the ‘Dutch Latte Art Competition’
The final will be On November 7th. The location is always trendy. And there are DJ’s and VJ’s.
The first time there were 20 people for the workshops, and last year maybe 45. This year more then 70 people signed in for a workshop. Together with Michel Buis “who actually won the first two episodes”, we did a presentation with a lot of theory and of course a lot of practical stuff.
Extra this year is the ‘etching’ part of the competition. So the competitors have to make 2 traditional capp’s, 4 latte arts and 2 etching-ccini…
Compliments for all the baristi who did the workshop. You showed a lot of talent, passion and ambition.
Please enjoy the pictures…
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Last month we had two new espresso bars opened. These bars, owned by two of our customers are in Piazza d’Oro style. So we did the branding, machines and I trained the barista.
Enjoy the pictures…
THE RAMADA HOTEL IN AMSTERDAM…
These are pictures places in the red lether wall…
The bar…
The interior
SHELL HEADQUARTER IN THE HAGUE…
Nic
e design, Mirage machine…
lunch time, 25-30 people waiting.
i like this interior…
Take care, Jeroen
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Just because UK colleagues are such nice and good people.
Some more pictures about the London Hilton week…
Matt & John. the Coordinator and the stand up Comedian. (Luigi, Luigi, Luigi)
Me and Doyle, the best and nicest technical guy in the UK
Giovanni UK italian barista and Ivan from Hungry
After diner drink in the Hilton Bar
No, she wasnt there…
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