Todd, a four-year partner (employee), was chosen from an original group of more than 17,000 baristas across the U.S. and Canada, capping a five-month long celebration of community, connection and craft.
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StarbucksAs green and white confetti fell from above, the winner of Starbucks first-ever North America Barista Championship was crowned: Darcy Todd from Arlington, Texas.
Todd was named in front of a live audience at the Starbucks Support Center in Seattle, chosen from an original group of more than 17,000 baristas representing company-operated, Siren Retail and licensed stores across the U.S. and Canada. The announcement caps a five-month long competition celebrating community, connection and craft that started with store selections in February.
Twenty-one regional champions flew to Seattle for this week’s three-day final event, which was broadcast live and took place in front of about 400 family, friends and Starbucks partners (employees), under green-tinted spotlights on a specially constructed stage designed to look like dueling store coffee bars. Nearly 3,000 people watched online
“I’m shocked and very honored,” Todd said, moments after winning. “A lot of us might struggle to find our passion and who we are, but when you have people like this (motioning at her fellow champions) who are all really supporting you and creating that community, it helps you find that sense of self.”
During the competition, the champions created and presented unique signature beverages made from in-store ingredients, crafted core Starbucks drinks like lattes and iced shaken espressos, led coffee tastings and told stories about favorite customers and key moments in their career.
At the end of the second day, judges selected three finalists – Todd, Holly Kang from Vancouver, British Columbia, and Adrian Mata Pantoja from Tempe, Arizona – to compete in one last coffee and storytelling finale.
Todd will be awarded a trip to Hacienda Alsacia, Starbucks research and development farm in Costa Rica, and will present her signature beverage – an Iced Peaches and Cream Latte with Coconut Milk – to Starbucks beverage innovation teams in Seattle.
Todd also advances to next year’s first Starbucks Global Barista Championship, which will also take place at Hacienda Alsacia, facing off against winners from markets around the world.
Along with the other regional champions, she’ll also be able to nominate a nonprofit organization to receive a $2,500 Neighborhood Grant from The Starbucks Foundation.
Sara Trilling, president of Starbucks North America, paid tribute to all the regional champions at the end of the competition.
Source: Starbucks
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