Coffee Bar @ Bailey’s announces winners of Fall Barista Challenge
On Sunday afternoon, the Coffee Bar @ Bailey’s held its inaugural Fall Barista Challenge inside Bailey’s General Store. The winner, selected by a panel of six judges, was Madelynn Maloy’s original coffee creation called “Irish Cream Bianca Latte.”
The five contestants were challenged to make the best fall-inspired drink, and Maloy proved to be the best with the panel of judges, who are all “local coffee lovers.” Each judge was asked to rank each drink on its own, and then all of the scores were combined to pick the winner.
The contest was very close, with first and second place only one point away — and all five drinks within six points of each other.
Barista Mimi Gill won the “People’s Choice Award,” which was selected by each audience member voting for their favorite drink. Her beverage was titled “Tropical Autumn Harvest.”
All of the drinks tasted of fall – pumpkin, cinnamon and caramel apple — were some of the inspiring flavors for this contest.
“Even though it was fall themed, all the drinks were very unique on their own,” said judge Angela Bell, a resident of Fort Myers.
Other judges at the Fall Barista Challenge were Lisa Martin, Mead Johnson, Hilary Andrews, Bridgit Stone-Budd and Jeff Lysiak.
There were samples of all of the new drinks, pastries from Bailey’s bakery, prizes and coffee mugs filled with chocolate-covered espresso beans for all of those who attended.
The fall drinks will be featured throughout the months of October and November at the Coffee Bar @ Bailey’s, located at 2477 Periwinkle Way in Bailey’s Center. They are open from 7 a.m. until 7 p.m. seven days a week.
(For additional images from the Fall Barista Challenge, visit cu.captivasanibel.com.)