Community is important for our team at Acaia. Every year, as part of our community support, we sponsor a range of local & international industry events and barista competitors.
We offer barista sponsorships to support and encourage a more diverse lineup of competitors. There are many obstacles for competing baristas on both the national and international levels. We hope the program will help them on their journey and achieve their goals on a more equal world stage. Matt Mashburn competed in the United States National Barista Championships this year.
Please introduce yourself.
Hey! My name is Matt Mashburn. I’m originally from Tampa, Florida, but I currently work for Jubala Coffee in Raleigh, North Carolina. I’ve been in coffee for about five years now, with the former part of that spent making frappes down in Florida. I’ve found a love for the coffee industry and a commitment to excellence in specialty coffee. I take an “ingredient” that most find to be ordinary or a commodity and dedicate myself to creating excellence from it.
Why did you decide to enter coffee competitions?
I decided to compete this year (for the first time!) to continue to push myself toward my passion for excellence. I knew I’d be heavily outclassed but wanted to enter the environment requiring my best effort and dedication. I had an overall fantastic experience competing. I didn’t score incredibly well, but I loved getting outside of the bubble of my shop and seeing how excellent the more wonderful world of coffee is! I met some great coffee people and got significant criticism from the judges. I also received a lot of encouragement from big names in the coffee industry that ensured I’d return to the scene.
How was your experience during the competition? Did you have a theme to your routine? How did you build it?
The most complimented part of my routine was my theme, which was “Why Excellence Matters.” In every stage of the coffee journey, from farm to puck, an individual or team takes an ingredient, develops a process and creates a product that impacts lives. My theme was built on the ideology that excellence matters because people matter. I love the idea of “regulars” in the shop. They choose to come to see us every morning because they’ve gained the expectation of excellence. I think that should inspire us to respect ourselves as “coffee chefs.” Fine dining restaurants hold their credibility by their work and the standards they set for themselves. Baristas should approach their work with the exact expectations. We have the opportunity to create excellence and impact lives, and I find that to be incredible.
What are your thoughts after competing? Will you compete again, and will it be in the same competition?
Initially, I was disappointed in myself after I didn’t pass the finals. I had some unrealistic expectations for a first-time competitor. Thankfully, that only lasted an hour or so, and I’m excited to go again next year. I’ll be back, competing in the Barista Championship for sure.
How did you use your sponsored Acaia products?
I used my Acaia products to weigh my portafilters, dose my signature beverage ingredients, and measure my espresso yields. Additionally, I used them for hours and hours of practice before the competition. From developing recipes to doing routine walkthroughs. And occasionally to make coffee at home.
What's coming up next in your journey with coffee?
Up next in my coffee journey is going back to work! I worked with a great team who supported me the whole week I was gone and a great company that helped me get there. I’m excited to be behind the bar again, but I’ve not skipped a day in training for 2025.
Thank you for sharing your competition experience with the Acaia Coffee Community, Matt.