I honestly thought he was just some random dude that really liked making coffee at home. I don't think I have ever heard him mention he was a freaking world champion contender of baristas. That's like finding your local basketball teacher is Micheal Jordan.
@@aaronryder4008 I think he's mentioned it before? something like "hard muck"? idk it's been a while since I recall him saying this but I can't deny I do recall it
@@miroslavmilan I think it was! He has a video on his channel where he gives commentary on this competition video, and how he got to choose the music that played
He talks about this in his commentary of his routine on his channel. At the time he was really interested In Neurolinguistic programming and scripted lots of assertive statements likes ‘enjoy’. He thinks he overdid it a bit!
I've been watching James' channel for like the last year and never realized he did this. The fact that he doesn't bring this up shows that he is a really humble guy.
I just looked it up. He actually won that year. Cool of him to not brag about it nowadays, but also he wasn't kidding whenever he talked about how hard he worked and had mentors in coffee back in the day.
My wife and I bought our first Moka pot today. I watched the first video from my search results from James teaching me how to make a perfect espresso shot from the pot. That first shot of espresso will mean a lot to me going forward. Because unbeknownst to me, I was learning from a World Champion … and this champion has made me appreciate coffee from my home country (Kenya) even more. 🎉🎉
@Alexa Dotson extremely rewarding. Coffee has never been the same again. We even had to get a bigger pot (9-cups) because we outgrew the 2-cup pot. Thank you!
Based on his expertise, meticulousness, and coffee roasting business, I figured he did something significant when he was younger, so it wasn't surprising to find this video. But what I do find really pleasantly surprising is that he was just as kind and well-spoken 15 years ago. A lot of people think skills give you the right to be rude and narcissistic. I don't believe that to be true. The real great ones don't sacrifice kindness for their talents. James is an amazing person
@@jamesfletcher474 yeah, except it's not. There's no way in hell you could do this as precisely under pressure, and it wouldn't taste remotely as good.
I watched the film ‘Barista’ on a transatlantic flight quite a few years ago. It was only about 10 minutes from the end that I realised it was a documentary!
I noticed a couple of things he did to pack the puck that are things he no longer does. In one video, he talked about how some things that were the standard back then to pack the puck have changed and improved from back then.It's really neat to see things like that the more I learn. He looked completely in command of everything he was doing. Always a pleasure to watch somebody do something they have mastered, no matter what it is.
Im Not gonna lie, Not just is This preformance amazing, so is the song choice. Feels exactly like a small cafe in downtown filled with the beautiful weirdos I need this playlist
I can't help but get a little emotional whenever I watch this guy. The amount of passion and respect this guy has, is something deeply missed in society. I hope my kids grow into the human James is. That passion and respect will take you anywhere and everywhere.
The guy preparing for this competition, taking into account the sweetness of the coffee, flavour notes, single-origin beans, unexpected flavours, chemistry of the coffee, extraction time, ratio...only to get people just clapping to latte art!! Really though??
When I was 19, I was studying food and beverage management, I entered a local barista championship and watched so many of this. I watched so much James Hoffman stuff as I am a new espresso machine owner. This makes me trust him more
Ive enjoyed his videos for a while now and had no clue he had this background. In my mind he went from being a dude that probably worked at a coffee shop to the Ramsay of espresso
I love how the two standing judges inspect every espresso shot like they were looking for a false bottom in the cups/glasses while James makes all the magic happen in the steel cans.
The way the song starts is lovely. When I discovered this back in December of 2020, I instantly fell in love for both Hoffman's performance and this song. I should check on his channel to see what he's up to...
So many things I love about his presentation: 1) No pretension, no flash. Just craftsmanship. 2) Quiet thank yous to people who answer a question or give him a hand. 3) Nothing outlandish. His choice of what to serve is based on his own excitement of the flavor profiles which he wants to share with others. 4) The small smile on his lips as he makes the coffee. He’s enjoying his craft.
Thanks for this video! 3 weeks ago i never even heard of a burr grinder let alone there was a method to brewing coffee beside the drip machine, this amazing humble and down to earth fellow was fast becoming my source of all things coffee. I finally looked up his participation in the WBC when he mentioned the donut coffee! I already enjoy his content stupendously, and this video is making me smile. A proud feeling for him, eventho it was in the past! Looking forward to more content from James.
It’s crazy how a Rosetta isn’t that impressive anymore when it comes to latte art. I just learned to do them and felt so proud but people are out here making faces and lions. It’s crazy
Super cool video. I watch him on youtube and I didn't know that he had won this competition thanks for sharing this even if you released it 8 years ago.
I really been watching his channel for the longest time thinking he's just a dude who's serious about his coffee and now I come and find out that he's a beast in the world of baristas, he's just at a level that could kill a newbie like me instantly without messing up the tamper on his coffee puck
@@hiskishow Because high quality tobacco has an amazing smell which I assume translates to flavor (I've never drank tobacco so I wouldn't know), which I'm sure is what he's using, I doubt he cut open a Marlboro and dropped it in..lol
@Sam Lutfi not at all, song is full of constant dancing in tension, something a competition like this would definitely have an air of. the song is mellow, much like his demeanor and what i imagine his headspace the whole time. if anything id have the music mixed a touch quieter and if it really bugs you, maybe an instrumental of the song.
I know everyone is complaining about the music choice but I actually think king Hoffman was ahead of the curve. Coffee shops in Lancaster, Pa tend to play this type of stuff.
I’ve had a coffee machine for years that I use every morning, nothing too fancy. About a week ago the RU-vid algorithm decided that I should start watching fine craft espresso videos. This morning I ordered a puck screen, a coffee distributor and a spring tensioned tamper!🤦♂️
