USBC Competitor Charles Babinski, G&B Coffee & Go Get Em Tiger

SprudgeLive’s coverage of the 2015 United States Barista Championship is made possible by direct support from Nuova SimonelliCafe Imports, and Bonavita.  All of SprudgeLive’s 2015 barista competition coverage is underwritten in partnership with Square and Urnex Brands

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We reached out to each of the 2015 US Barista Championship competitors prior to their routines, to learn a bit more about them as competitors and coffee pros. We hope you enjoy these interviews!

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CHARLES BABINSKI

Company: G&B Coffee / Go Get Em Tiger
Number of years behind the bar: 11
Number of competitions: 6 years worth
2008 glrbc – 9th, I believe. Right behind Trevor and Ryan. I remember thinking “Moon Monkey?” USBC – dont remember, maybe 28th? It wasnt pretty.
2010 GLRBC – 3rd, USBC – 5th
2012 SWRBC 2nd – USBC – 2nd
2013 SWRBC 2nd – USBC -2nd
2014 SWRBC 1st – USBC – 2nd
2015 SWRBC 1st

Coffee: For sig and capps – Honduras Ocotillo from 49th Parallel. For espresso an Ethiopia that I will probably choose day of or thereabouts

Milk: Not sure

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Signature Beverage: This is part of Sprudge’s attempt to bring back the tradition of naming a sig drink. I know whats up. I’m on to you! I wont succumb to your vile agenda….GAH!. ERK! BLURGH! CHARLIE MOONBEAM’S RIGHTEOUS BREW-GASM! (GASP)

As of right now – and things might change as I finally get my shit together – the drink is made up of pine-tree honey, a juniper syrup and a reduction of grapefruit juice

Secret Weapons: Lord no

Playlist: Not sure what it is going to be! Working with a friend to make it good, though.

Theme: Embracing the larger systems of coffee at both the farm and the coffee shop levels and how those systems benefit (and make possible) smaller, independent agents.

Total Practice Hours: Including regionals…24? Its hard because I have competed so many times before and generally don’t have much free time. Its a little bit too much of a shitshow for standard accounting 🙂

Coach(es): Percy Ramirez has always been a supporter and we’ve worked closely together this year, so I consider him a coach. Day of the comp he is an invaluable help. Mike Phillips has always been there, too. There are also a small group of people that I try to bounce my ideas off of and look to for guidance on whether or not I am making my point well. Not always coffee people, too, since the goal is more intellectual cohesion than just coffee stuff.

Fashion: Not sure! My fiance is a stylist and I trust her on what to wear. 

Social Medias: @charlesbabinski