Our Baristas Are Better Than Your Baristas

By Joanna Miller in Food on May 23, 2006 8:33PM

It seems this is the season for awards, rankings and competitions, at least when it comes to food and drinks, the people who make them and the places they are consumed. And don’t tell Chicagoans they’re not leading the pack in any arena. No, seriously, don’t.

Looking for a world-class coffee drink? Matthew Riddle, a designer for Chicago's Intelligentsia Coffee & Tea, is not only the best barista in the country, he’s one of the top three in the world.

Last weekend, Riddle came in third in the World Barista Championships in Bern, Switzerland. He made the trip after winning the U.S. Barista Championships in Charlotte, N.C., last month with specialty drinks such as “The Star” – a mixture of molasses, fig syrup, espresso and steamed milk.

Chicagoist prefers our caffeine in simpler forms, but we like to know we live in a place where we could find such a concoction, if we had the urge.

Image via intelligentsiacoffee.com