AND THE WINNER IS...

[zacharycarlsen]

Klaus Thompson announces the winners…

6th place: Brazil Barista Champion Sylvia Magalhaes

5th place: Switzerland Barista Champion Anna Kaeppeli

4th place: Japan Barista Champion Miyuki Miyamae

3rd place: New Zealand Barista Champion Carl Sara

2nd place: United States Barista Champion Heather Perry

2007 WORLD BARISTA CHAMPION IS: United Kingdom Barista Champion James Hoffmann!!!!!

[Jason Haeger]

I just can't express my excitement adequately in text form.

[Steve]

James you're my Hero well done for putting the UK on the coffee map, I'm so pleased

[ypoedza]

congratulations!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! awesome!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Heather!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
James!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[Jack Hanna]

congratulations to the hoff!
well deserved mate...

[sarahdelilah]

Heather,

Being as awesome a person as you are, I know you must be stoked about your amazing performance. I cried! I wished I could be there to hug you! You are wonderful, and you have made me so proud.

Crying tears of happiness as I write this,
Sarah

[Gary McGann]

We set out three years ago in the UK to get a top ten position in 3/5 years. I really cant believe that we now have a WBC champion. We were so lucky that James stepped up to the plate when he did. To him the greatest applause. To everyone else who helped him in his journey take a bow. To our sponsors, thank you. To the baristas who kept pushing him in the nationals, to Steve L for roasting his coffee, to Stephen M his coach, to Steve P his until renently employer and driving force of the UKBC, to my fellow commitee members, to the whole coffee community who supported him.

This is a great day for James and the UK coffee industry!

Not forgetting Heather and the other top 6 either - well done!

[Rich Westerfield]

Congrats James on the win. Too cool. Can't wait to read your thoughts when it sinks in.
Congrats Heather on the highest US finish ever and for being a consummate pro.
Congrats all finalists and and competitors for being champions!

[MarkG]

Well done James, a fantastic achievement, you did the UK proud and I am so pleased for you. Good luck for your new venture

Not forgetting Coffeed's own Steve Leighton who worked with Jim through the UKBC wins and is a truely gifted roaster. The hero of the UK enthusiast community.

[Mike Paras]

fantastic!

[Aldo1]

Congratulation to James and Heather; everyone, really. It sounds like it was marvelous craftsmanship: an outstanding display of coffee and skill. I wonder what it came down to?

[Aldo1]

And SO interesting to me that the Japanese champion competed in English (I can only imagine trying to perform in Japanese myself -- rofl)

How do they handle the language and translation issues for the judges?

[Matt Riddle]

most of the judges are fluent or at least speak enough english to understand. If the competitor doesn't speak english, they have a translator.

[terry]

What a great event. Congrats to the finalists and to James and Heather! Awesome

[Dismas]

Wow! That is awesome. Congratulations James. Congratulations Heather. The first time that Norway or Denmark has not been in the top six incredible.

[Ryan Willbur]

Just when I thought I couldn't respect James Hoffman more... Way to rock it! Well deserved! It's good to know that the craft and coffee will be well represented over the next year...

[zacharycarlsen]

We've begun posting the finalist presentation videos. You can now see James' full performance.

http://zacharyzachary.com/2007/08/02/fi ... entations/

[sarahdelilah]

Zachary! Go to sleep! You deserve to rest and relax now!! Are you staying in Tokyo for a well-deserved vacay now?

[zacharycarlsen]

must blog

[sarahdelilah]

Good. Enjoy yourselves. You have literally changed everything about the potential for communication within the industry.

Ryan Willbur: It's Hoffmann, damnit! (Not Hoffman)

[Sandy]

Congrats to James Hoffmann! Nice job.

Heather, all i can say is congratulations, you did us so proud.

[Ryan Willbur]

Ryan Willbur: It's Hoffmann, damnit! (Not Hoffman)

Alright, alright! Point taken!

[jmc]

congrats to all!
heather perry you are fierce.
zachary, stay golden.

[Duck]

Everyone was amazing. Zachary and Katie deserve an award for the job they did.

Heather is a machine.
James is wow.

USA Baristas, 3...2...?