Coffee competitions have grown to be a dominant force for how professionals and consumers alike view the role of a barista, the industry, and coffee itself. Mindsets, businesses, and the supply chain itself has been shaped by the influence of competitions and today, understanding this world is critical to understanding coffee.  To talk about this today we are joined by one of the most respected, prolific, and knowledgable WCE Competition head judges out there, Scott Conary! As Owner of award-winning Caffe Driade, Perennial & Open Eye Café in Chapel Hill, NC; along with Wholesale Roastery Carrboro Coffee Roasters; Scott Conary has had many opportunities to travel, teach and learn about coffee production, harvest, selection, blends and trends for the last 25+ years. He is an active educator in the Industry in most all disciplines and consults for companies, restaurants, and cafes nationally & around the world while also serving as a WCE Representative and Certified Head Judge for the World Barista Championship since 2005. He has been a head Judge & Instructor for the Alliance for Coffee Excellence & the Cup of Excellence program since 2015. Scott trains Barista’s and coffee professionals as a consultant, in the U.S. and around the world, for skill, knowledge and competition. In this episode we get to discuss competitions, judging, what makes a "good" barista, and the role these things have played and continue to play (both good and bad) in shaping the environment we operate in We cover: The Mentorship Aspect of Competitions The Evolution of Competitions and the Role of Judges The Influence of Baristas and competitions on the Supply Chain and Public Perception of Coffee The Universal Takeaways from Competitions Defining a "Good Barista" The Importance of Connection and Care Technical Innovation and Connecting with Customers Utilizing Innovation and Making a Connection Expanding Beyond Barista Competition Aligning with Organizations and Seeking Transparency Celebrating Coffee and Affecting Change Progress through Relationships and Collaboration Getting Involved and Opening Doors Links: https://carrborocoffee.com/ https://caffedriade.com/ https://openeyecafe.com/ https://www.perennial.cafe/ Instagram: @coffeescott Want to run an amazing coffee shop? Hire Keys to the Shop Consulting to work with you 1:1 to transform your coffee shop operations, quality, and people.   Custom consulting for your unique business. Schedule a free discovery call now! https://calendly.com/chrisdeferio/30min Thank you to our amazing sponsors! Get the best brewer and tool for batch espresso, iced lattes, and 8 minute cold brew! www.groundcontrol.coffee   The world loves plant based beverages and baristas love the Barista Series! www.pacificfoodservice.com