Venezuelan espresso skilled Juan Suárez tells us all about his studies as a espresso pageant emcee.
BY VASILEIA FANARIOTI
SENIOR ONLINE CORRESPONDENT
Featured photograph courtesy of The Barista League
In the event you’ve ever watched a espresso pageant, you understand that the emcee is a vital part of the development. From timekeeping to introducing competition to offering remark on their performances, those other people are an important for conserving issues working easily. In fact, additionally they upload power and pleasure to the court cases with their vigorous webhosting taste!
However how does one develop into an emcee, and what abilities do they want? On this three-part collection, I will be able to be interviewing skilled espresso pageant emcees to get a greater figuring out in their function and what it takes to develop into one. My first interviewee is Juan Suárez.
I met Juan ultimate February when he hosted The Barista League’s Los angeles Rumba pageant in Bogotá. Initially from Venezuela, he has been operating as a inexperienced espresso purchaser for Tropiq within the Latin The usa area since November of 2020. Previous to that, he was once a barista in Colombia and Dubai. Juan has additionally finished an internship in Inexperienced Espresso with Nordic Means in Oslo.
What impressed you to participate as an emcee in espresso competitions?
A part of my inspiration is solely my persona. My buddies describe me as a “Golden Retriever,” stuffed with power and very social. I love to be the middle of the birthday party and make everybody leap and dance. However I will have to say that my primary inspiration, or second after I mentioned “I wish to host this tournament,” was once again in 2020 after I attended The Barista League’s tournament in Oslo all through my internship. Sierra Yeo did an excellent activity webhosting the development and making everybody birthday party. I sought after to carry this identical vibe to Latin The usa and to the barista neighborhood in Colombia.
What are you able to let us know about your enjoy as an emcee in Los angeles Rumba?
I’ve been speaking with The Barista League group to carry the development to Latin The usa since 2020, however the pandemic came about and behind schedule issues for reasonably a while. Once I realized that they have been making plans to come back to Colombia, I used to be simply immeasurably glad. Being decided on to host this tournament was once an honor. To look all of the pleasant faces of the Colombian barista neighborhood, and switch “Los angeles Rumba” into an actual birthday party, was once simply excellent. I sought after them to really feel the similar means I felt again after I attended The Barista League tournament in Oslo.
Have you ever participated as an emcee in different competitions as neatly?
I had the chance to host an tournament through Acaia and Seven Fortunes in Dubai again in 2019. The aim of the contest was once to make use of their Pearl scale to brew espresso completely. I’ve additionally hosted a number of latte artwork throwdowns in Colombia and Peru, the most recent being with Milimetrica Espresso in Lima.
To your opinion, how does having an emcee toughen the whole enjoy of pageant for competition and target market contributors?
The emcee is the bridge between the target market and the development. They will have to make the folk mindful of what’s taking place within the pageant, along side figuring out the main points of the contest and being in a position to reply to any questions associated with it. The emcee will have to be, because the identify says, the “grasp of the rite.”
To your opinion, what are the original abilities required to be a a hit emcee in espresso competitions?
Initially, power. I feel power is likely one of the key facets of a a hit emcee. When you have that easiness to make other folks leap, dance, and get within the tournament, you’re very prone to be triumphant as an emcee. Then you need to know the foundations; no one within the venue will have to know the foundations higher than you, despite the fact that you’re now not a espresso skilled.
After all, figuring out what to mention, however most significantly, figuring out what to NOT say. There are a large number of other non secular, political, and cultural backgrounds in the entire occasions around the globe. It’s just right to have your personal belief on issues, however as an emcee you will have to arrange to stay your self as impartial as imaginable.
Since you will have hosted a couple of competitions, I’m questioning what you suppose had been probably the most important developments within the espresso business on account of them?
Competitions carry out the most efficient of what the nationwide and international business can be offering. Lately, we’ve noticed an building up within the wisdom of the neighborhood in numerous facets of the espresso business, reminiscent of post-harvesting processes like carbonic maceration, espresso genetics just like the Eugenioides and Laurina coffees, new brewing strategies, and plenty of extra.
However competitions also are a technique to combine the espresso neighborhood and create bonds between pros. Those connections may end up in collaborations, activity alternatives, or even friendships. Moreover, they supply a platform for baristas and occasional pros to exhibit their abilities and creativity.
After all, competitions are a technique to teach most people about espresso. They provide a chance for other folks to be told in regards to the intricacies of espresso and the laborious paintings that is going into generating a perfect cup. This may end up in a better appreciation and figuring out of espresso and the business as a complete.
General, I’m thankful for the alternatives that competitions have given me and the expansion they have got delivered to the espresso business. I sit up for proceeding to be part of the espresso neighborhood and seeing the developments and discoveries that may come from long term competitions.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Vasileia Fanarioti (she/her) is a senior on-line correspondent for Barista Mag and a contract copywriter and editor with a number one focal point at the espresso area of interest. She has additionally been a volunteer copywriter for the I’M NOT A BARISTA NPO, offering content material to assist teach other folks about baristas and their paintings. You’ll practice her adventures at thewanderingbean.web.
