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Food

America's Best Barista Hails From Los Angeles

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Angelenos and coffee lovers, we now have this to brag about: the number one barista in America is based in Los Angeles. The co-owner of Go Get Em Tiger and G&B snagged first place at the 2015 U.S. Barista Championship over the weekend.This is the first time Charles Babinski received the top honors at this annual competition; up until now, he'd been a threepeat second-place winner. In the three-day event held in Long Beach, he wowed judges with a concoction that we'd want to drink. (We're crossing our fingers that he'll start serving this at his coffee shops.) According to Sprudge:

Mr. Babinski’s routine made use of a coffee called Honduras Ocotillo, roasted by 49th Parallel in Vancouver, British Colombia, as well as an Ethiopian coffee roasted by Heart Coffee Roasters of Portland, Oregon. His signature beverage (a concoction each barista develops using any ingredients they desire, sans alcohol) combined pine tree honey, juniper syrup, and a grapefruit reduction, blended together live on stage with Honduran espresso.

As for what's next for Babinski, he's moving on to the World Barista Championship competition in Seattle, WA from April 9 to 12. Make us proud, Babinski.

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