A local coffee shop owner is rising above the daily grind.
Anthony Rue, owner of Volta Coffee, Tea & Chocolate, became certified earlier this month to judge the annual World Barista Competition in Rimini, Italy.
To become certified, Rue said he took two days worth of exams, including a coffee history test and a 100-question competition rules test.
“I was the only everyday, behind-the-bar barista taking that exam. Most are coffee buyers or roasters,” said 51-year-old Rue, who has participated in the competition before.
Competitors will serve the judges one espresso, one cappuccino and one signature drink within a 15-minute period. Judges have to be able to measure the coffee’s acidity and determine the coffee’s origin.
Six years ago, Rue opened the store after traveling the country. Opening Volta was like graduate school for him, he said.
Shop employees and regulars notice his passion for the craft.
Yarrow Geggus, a 24-year-old Volta barista and baker, said she enjoys working with Rue because of his expertise.
“He just has encyclopedic knowledge about coffee, and he is totally self-taught,” she said.
Though Rue said he is well-traveled, he has never been to Italy, the location for this year’s World Barista Competition.
“I was excited when I found out,” he said. “It’s an incredible honor.”
[A version of this story ran on page 5 on 2/24/2014 under the headline "Volta owner to judge annual barista competition"]
