SHS grad wins barista competition

This year, Regan won for his store’s area.

Barista Championships is an internally sponsored, friendly competition between baristas that Starbucks holds each year from late spring to early summer over the course of three rounds: Store Level, District Level, and Area Level. 

“The focus of the competition is different from year to year and from level to level,” Regan explained. “The focus early on (Store Level) is on the standards and routines of making drinks, explaining the differences between drinks (flavor, texture, appearance, etc.) maintaining equipment, and generally being knowledgeable in the different aspects of your roles and responsibilities as a barista.”

He said the District Level is more involved, covering more drinks and recipes

while allowing competitors to showcase some of their coffee knowledge and expertise. 

Competitors are judged on their ability to make “latte art” (hearts, rosettas, etc.) while pouring drinks during the competition and are required to hold a coffee tasting with a freshly-brewed coffee of their choosing.

“We were asked to explain why we chose the coffee that we did, its importance to us, and how we would share that story and tasting with our fellow partners 

(baristas) and customers,” said Regan. 

He said Area Level was the hardest level of competition and was divided into two parts: Technical and Coffee Leadership.

“The Technical part of the competition incorporated even more drinks, more complex recipes, and the ability to explain and describe each drink, how it was made, and what it tasted like all while being timed and questioned by the judges,” he said. “The Coffee Leadership portion was a coffee tasting with two

judges where we got to brew a coffee of our choosing however we wanted, in whatever way we wanted (drip, over ice, french press, pour over etc.), and paired with a food or drink item.”

He said that while the tasting was being prepared and sampled, baristas talked to the judges about their time with Starbucks, their journey throughout the competition, what it meant to be a leader in their stores and among

peers and what it was that made them so passionate about their jobs and how they planned to share that passion with peers and customers.

“All levels of the competition were held in front of an audience, timed and competitors were required to give all of the information and answer any questions that the judges had while making drinks in sequence (the routine of making several drinks at once),” said Regan.

Regan said that while he has been a part of the competition every year since he began working for Starbucks, the first year he was told by his manager that he was competing rather than deciding for myself.

“The following two years I willingly participated to improve my performance and push myself even further out of my comfort zone,” he said. “I made it to the District Level of competition all three years, but this was the first time that I’ve made it to the final round of competition, let alone win it.”

For winning the competition, Regan received an embroidered apron, a commemorative pin, a trophy (a gold painted milk-pitcher holding

a potted plant), and a signed card from the area manager and all of the District Managers in Area 109, the group of stores from which all of the competitors were selected.

Regan works at a Starbucks in Shepherdsville. 

He said he enjoys the obvious perks of working for a coffee shop, free coffee, food, discounts on merchandise, etc., but his favorite part of the job is getting to share his coffee knowledge with customers and peers. 

“I can help educate people when it comes to coffee, and help them understand why different things taste the way that they do, why it is that they like what they do, and what to do if they don’t like something,” he said. “I also get to build relationships with my regular customers and look forward to being a positive part of their day.”

Regan is a 2010 graduate of Salem High School. He studies Music Education (instrumental) at the University of Louisville.

Regan said he enjoys his job at Starbucks and has learned quite a bit from his experiences in the competition.

“The most important thing that I’ve learned from my time with Starbucks and from winning the competition this year is that no matter what you are or where you are in life, be a good one,” he said. “Work hard; take pride in what you do. You may not be a doctor or lawyer or anything lucrative like that, but it doesn’t mean that you can’t take pride in your work and give 100%.”

Regan said when he’s not slinging coffee, he is either teaching colorguard at Silver Creek High School with his roommate/best friend/co-director Lynndi Lockenour or working a full-time job as a daddy to their two fur babies: Bella and Millie.