Chicago man aims for world's best barista

CHICAGO, April 18 (UPI) -- A Chicago man vying to be crowned the world's best barista says he aims to make good coffee and have fun at this year's championship in Atlanta.

"I really care about what I do," said Michael Phillips. "I really care about coffee and the entire chain of things, from where the coffee is grown and processed, all the way to the shop where it's prepared and the customers who enjoy it."

Phillips, the reigning U.S. barista champion, Sunday is to face a panel of seven judges looking for that one person who outshines everyone else when it comes to mastery of the espresso machine, the Chicago Sun-Times reported Saturday. The World Barista Championship has attracted competitors from 52 countries, with the top six going to Sunday's final round.

"You have 15 minutes to show them why the coffee you're serving is spectacular," said Phillips, 30, a barista at Chicago's Intelligentsia Coffee, where he shapes the froth on each cup of espresso into a tulip heart.

There is no cash prize Sunday, just "barista fame and glory," Phillips said.