Wheaton coffee maker competes in U.S. Barista Championship
Erik Czuprinski's competitive streak, years of experience and passion for coffee made him a perfect fit at last month's U.S. Barista Championship.
The assistant manager at Wheaton's River City Roasters put his talents on display in Kansas City during the regional competition sponsored by the Specialty Coffee Association of America.
"I always thought this competition would be a great way to mature as a coffee professional and learn a lot about different aspects of the coffee industry, but also satiate that competitive side that I have," he said. "I felt really in my element there."
Czuprinski had 10 minutes to prepare an espresso, a milk-based drink and a signature drink and present them to two sensory judges. He spent weeks fine-tuning the signature drink: a chilled espresso with juniper berry, hibiscus and raw sugar, reminiscent of wine.
While he worked, two technical judges hovered over him, watching for the smallest mistakes, such as spilling a few coffee grounds on the table or having too much milk left over.
Back in Wheaton, River City Roasters regulars filled the shop to watch a live stream of Czuprinski participating in the competition.
"It was really exciting," co-owner Erich Goepel said. "Everybody was holding their breath. They were really engaged in the whole process."
Goepel said Czuprinski was a great contender for numerous reasons, but especially because of his excellent customer service.
"What he wants to serve a customer is what he's proud enough to take to competition," Goepel said.
However, Goepel said the other 99 baristas taking part in the event were "the best of the best," so Czuprinski was up against some stiff competition.
For every second a competitor went over 10 minutes, a point was deducted. Czuprinski spent an extra 46 seconds on his drinks, which eliminated him from the top 36 - a category he needed to be in to make it to the national competition.
"I try not to think about it too much," he said with a smile. "I just try to think about next year."