We sat down to check out the most recent model of the sport—a a laugh alternative to be told extra about espresso whilst vying for cool espresso prizes.
BY TANYA NANETTI
SENIOR ONLINE CORRESPONDENT
Footage via Tanya Nanetti
I’ve by no means been a lot into video video games, aside from for the vintage arcade video games of my adolescence.
Rising up within the ‘80s supposed taking part in Tetris, Puzzle Bobble, and Boulevard Fighter. I regularly spent lengthy afternoons in darkish arcades lit most effective via the bright colours of arcade consoles.
That’s why I used to be interested in Leaderboard: The Espresso Recreation, an arcade-themed sport that has my largest obsession at its core: strong point espresso. It seemed a laugh, promising the danger to check out an enormous number of coffees, in addition to the chance to win a number of cool espresso prizes.
In spite of everything, the field containing the 9th season of the sport was once brought to my door. I accumulated a number of espresso buddies in combination to play the sport.
Throughout the Field
The thrill began even prior to taking part in, just by having a look on the cool contents of the Leaderboard field. It contained 10 retro-designed baggage of puzzle coffees, a tasting magazine, an instruction card, and a quiz layout, plus 5 sticks of 3rd Wave Water, useful for brewing (or cupping) higher espresso.
Studying the quiz, we quickly found out we have been in hassle.
The questions weren’t “simple,” like indicating taste notes. They have been a lot more explicit; in what house and nation was once a selected espresso grown? What was once its dominant selection? Used to be it decaf or low-caf? Used to be it a washed, herbal, or honey processed espresso?
The Leaderboard sport already seemed sophisticated, and the ones have been simply the one-point questions!
Consider our issue with the three-point questions, which requested gamers to match two explicit coffees via deciding, as an example, which one was once grown at the next elevation, or which one (of all 10) gained 2d position at a Cup of Excellence pageant!
With out additional extend, it was once time to begin the sport, tasting the ten mysterious coffees whilst on the lookout for the solutions.
Pinpointing Coffees
For a few hours, we cupped the ten coffees—3 rounds of cupping/examining each unmarried espresso and seeking to examine it with the former ones. Ben, our Q Grader buddy and essentially the most skilled amongst us, was once ready to indicate—virtually with out hesitation—which explicit geographical house a selected espresso got here from.
Dri, a roaster and barista, knew all in regards to the various kinds of roasting. She was once the primary to acknowledge the coffees of her local Brazil in only some sips.
Emily, Spencer, Endri and I helped resolution all of the different questions. One among us knew all in regards to the new Sidra varietal. Any person else—who loves consuming washed espresso—known their favourite procedure in seconds.
Everybody had a unique favourite; everybody had doubts and certainties.
To substantiate the most recent uncertainties, we proceeded to brew one of the coffees we had doubts about. 4 V60s later, we had clearer concepts.
Filing Recreation Solutions
Again house, it was once time to put up our solutions via an old-school, arcade-esque (however practical) interface. I temporarily uploaded all our decided on solutions, and that was once it.
There was once not anything left to do however watch for the result of Season 9. We’re hoping (however now not totally believing) we’ll see our title a few of the prime ratings of the brand new season.
Brewing Wisdom
All in all, taking part in Leaderboard—but even so being extraordinarily a laugh—was once a excellent reminder of simply how a lot there may be to be told about espresso, and the way little we nonetheless know.
That’s why one of the best ways to play it’s with a number of espresso buddies, whether or not they’re Q Graders, roasters, baristas, or just espresso enthusiasts. Each and every unmarried participant will upload price (and regularly some explicit piece of information that it seems that is understood most effective via them), a laugh, and enlargement alternatives to the crew.
Registration for Season 10 will open quickly on Leaderboard’s web site.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Tanya Nanetti (she/her) is a specialty-coffee barista, a traveler, and a dreamer. When she’s now not at the back of the espresso device (or visiting some hidden nook of the sector), she’s busy writing for Espresso Revolt, a web site about strong point espresso that she’s developing in conjunction with her boyfriend.
