Edmonton barista ranks 1st in Canada, 5th in the world
A small coffee shop in Edmonton is home to not only the best barista in Canada, but one of the best in the world.
Ply Pasarj has worked for about six years to hone the art of brewing the perfect cup of coffee.
"Coffee is so complex. There's so many flavour notes within coffee that we can look for or we can brew and take it out of coffee," he said.
Pasarj is also co-owner of Rogue Wave Coffee Co., a local coffee shop in the Prince Rupert neighbourhood.
"I started off obviously as a home brewer. Brewing coffee at home, doing pour overs, manual brewing coffee."
At the end of 2019 he decided to compete at the National Brewers Cup.
He won -- earning him a spot to take on the world's best in Milan last week.
"I was very, very nervous inside and it was my first time at the world stage and my heart was beating really, really fast."
He had 10 minutes to woo the judges with his technical and customer service skills, a presentation that earned him fifth place.
"I'm very proud of myself of being in the fifth place, obviously doing better would be better but I'm just happy to be able to represent Canada and being able to place in the final."
"Been rooting him on as he's competed across the world," said longtime customer Matthew Semaka. "He did a fantastic job."
It's a win Pasarj says he couldn't have done without the staff at Rogue.
"Listening to my practice presentation, drinking a lot of coffee and giving me feedback," said Pasarj.
He says at least 400 cups of coffee were brewed to get ready for the competition.
"By the end we had a hard time sleeping," laughed Pasarj.
Even more sleepless nights could be on the horizon, as Pasarj has his sights set on other barista competitions, including a win at the next World Brewers Cup.
With files from CTV News Edmonton's Amanda Anderson
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Trudeau and Harris? Poilievre and Trump? Here's who Canadians think would work best with: survey
As Americans prepare to elect their next president on Tuesday, new data from the Angus Reid Institute suggests Canadians hold differing views as to which federal party leaders would be best suited to deal with either Donald Trump or Kamala Harris.
B.C. port employers launch lockout at terminals in labour dispute with workers
Employers at British Columbia ports say they are going ahead with locking out more than 700 foremen across the province after strike activities from union members began.
Months after VRBO booking, Taylor Swift fan told home 'not available' during Vancouver concert
A frustrated Taylor Swift fan is speaking out after being pushed from a short-term rental she booked for the upcoming Vancouver leg of the superstar’s Eras Tour.
Felonies, assassination attempts and a last-minute change on the ticket leads voters to Tuesday's U.S. election
A campaign that has careened through a felony trial, incumbent being pushed off the ticket and assassination attempts comes down to Election Day on Tuesday.
Measles cases in New Brunswick more than double in three days
A measles outbreak declared in New Brunswick’s Zone 3 last week, which includes Fredericton and the upper Saint John River Valley, has more than doubled since last week.
Prison sentences handed down for sexually abusive London, Ont. parents
In handing down the sentences for two London parents, Justice Thomas Heeney told the court, "The facts of this case were the most egregious that I have encountered during my 26 years on the bench."
She was diagnosed with Type 2 diabetes about a year ago. Here's how her condition was reversed
A year ago, Lorraine O'Quinn was coping with stress, chronic illness and Type 2 diabetes. Then she discovered a health program that she says changed her life.
Surprise swing state? Iowa poll has Harris suddenly leading
Based on victories in the past two elections and polls leading up to Tuesday’s election, Donald Trump had seemed almost certain to win Iowa, but a new poll has Kamala Harris with a sudden three-point lead.
Russia suspected of sending incendiary devices on US- and Canada-bound planes, Wall Street Journal reports
Incendiary devices that ignited in Germany and the United Kingdom in July were part of a covert Russian operation that aimed to start fires aboard cargo and passenger flights heading to the U.S. and Canada, the Wall Street Journal (WSJ) reported Monday, citing Western security officials.