A coffee roast off

One of the neat things about the internet it that it's easy to frequently scan just a whole bunch of newspapers from all over the country (all over the world for that matter). Here's a story from the Long Beach Press Telegram on a competition preaparing espresso specialty drinks

Crimson Sage did it for her in 2005, and Phuong Tran hopes Summer Eclipse will put her back on top this year.

Steve Fritzen is banking on his Adado Temple.

You wouldn't guess by the names, but Tran and Fritzen are among the dozens of coffee slingers who have come to Long Beach to claim the title of the nation's top barista.

The Specialty Coffee Association of America's 19th Annual Conference & Exhibition kicked off in the Long Beach Convention Center Friday with the United States Barista Championship. Forty-eight competitors from all over the United States will compete, with the winner being sent to Japan this summer to vie for the title of world's best.

Not all of the espresso drinks made during the competition sound so passive. There were several appropriately caffeinated names - like the Godzilla.

Competitor Alex McCracken hustled on Friday to finish his signature drink, made with honey, thyme and hot water mixed with espresso.

"I don't really have a fancy name for it," the St. Louis resident said.

Fancy names or no, many drinks made at the competition can't be found in your typical coffeehouse. Many are too labor-intensive, and can't be affordably made in mass quantities.

However, several baristas this year promised to make efforts to bring their fancy drinks to local coffeehouses.

See the article for more details.