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michael Phillips

Male

Profile Information:

What is your position in the coffee industry?: barista, barista trainer, home barista
Where are you located? ( City and Country ): chicago IL
How many years have you been in the industry?: 2
If you are a barista or shop, are you interested in a barista exchange with another coffee shop/barista?: maybe
Tell us more about your coffee shop or barista skills.: I work for Intelligentsia coffee and tea in Chicago. We try to set the bar high for what it takes to work in our shops and I would qualify most of our bar certified staff as solid 3rd wavers. I currently have a decent grasp on latte art, solid knowledge of espresso craft and know my fair share about single origin coffees as well. I could not speak for Intelligentsia as far as opening our shops to the exchange program but would be interested in seeing how other shops do things and participating in Jams, guest shifts or what have you
What cities or countries are you interested in traveling to?: short term I am interested in any US city with a solid 3rd wave shop/culture. in the longer term I am inclined to travel to central/south america, Europe and possibly even africa.
About Me:: I am a 29 year old Barista with some experience in coffee production environments as well. I adhere to a healthy chunk of your standard progressive values such as living green, social responsibility and equality. My interests outside of coffee include biking (commuter) bar tending/mixology and plants.
About My Company:: Intelligentsia is a coffee roaster with 4 retail locations, 3 in chicago and 1 in LA. We are pushing a new direction in purchasing coffee and developing farmer relations which we have termed Direct Trade. We keep our standards high for both the quality of our beans and our preparation. We support industry events such as the regional barista comps and are SCAA members in good standing.
Website:: http://oneshotfortheroad.wordpress.com/

Comment Wall:

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Jason Dominy

Nice job this weekend man. It was a joy to watch you, and clear how much time and energy you put into conveying your passion for coffee into your set. I was inspired, and honored to be a part of seeing it. Cheers.

Feb 24, 2009
Miro

Mike, you did a great job this weekend! It's always a pleasure seeing you. Keep holding it down in the Chi! Oh, and props on that comp blend.

Feb 24, 2009
Miro

I got shots of whiskey and spro waiting for ya anytime :o)

Feb 24, 2009
Mike Strumpf

I wouldn't miss Portland. Hope to see you there and catch up.

Feb 24, 2009
Ryan Knapp

nice seeing you this weekend mike. Again great performance, I loved the creativity and depth behind your sig. Surely see you soon. Take care.

Feb 25, 2009
Samantha Bako

Awesome job at Coffeefest. I was really impressed!

Feb 26, 2009
Matthew Gasaway

Hey Mike
Just wanted to let you know I was extremely impressed both saturday and sunday. Supreme performances in my eyes.
I was wicked sick sunday and I stayed just long enough to see your routine (Damn food poisoning).
I'm sure I'll see you soon

Feb 27, 2009
Stephanie Ratanas

Woo hooo! Semi-finals! Too bad I totally moved out of Portland to Minneapolis, I would have bought you a celebratory drink, or five. Good luck with the rest! You are the most rad.

Mar 6, 2009
S.a.a.d.i.a

Congrats !

Mar 8, 2009
Ray

Congratulations Mike! Definitely one of my favorite performances of the week. Well done and well deserved!

Mar 8, 2009
Allie

Congrats, I really enjoyed watching your performance and was hoping you would be the one to win. Good luck in Atlanta!

Mar 8, 2009
Dex

Hell yea man way to go, bringing it home to chi-town! Watched you on ustream and you were rocking. Hope I make it to world to see you represent! Take care

Mar 8, 2009
Stephanie Ratanas

Numero uno.

Mar 8, 2009
Miro

Great Lakes represent!!!!!!! Great job Mike! All the uglies in ypsi are way proud of you brother.

Fucking USBC Champ! What! :o)

Mar 9, 2009
james fairbrass

leaving yet another, congrats/you're awesome/you're #1 comment.

mike phillips... so happy for you. from here on, you shall simply be known as, the avenger.

peace&love
j

Mar 9, 2009
Stephanie Ratanas

Yeah, Kopplin's is quite awesome, one of about 2 places. I wish it were closer to my house. Certainly let me know next time you're in the land of 10K lakes.

Mar 9, 2009
Samantha Bako

Wot wot, congratulations!!! I'm super excited I got to see your competition presentation in the Great Lakes, and way jazzed and spazzed that you took the title! Fantastic job, well done, etc. etc. Tear it up in Hotlanta!

Mar 9, 2009
elvin

YES!

What more can I say?

awesome.

Mar 9, 2009
Jonathan Christerson

Of course I will! It was great to meet you this past weekend! Congrats on the win! You deserved it!

Mar 10, 2009
Greenway Barista

congrats. i rep intelly here in Htown, and its cool you won. I am dying to try the bolivian SO you used.

Mar 10, 2009
Chris DeMarse

you can count on it, my good man.

Mar 10, 2009
Matt Milletto

Hey Michael,

Congrats man! Great job and we are all stoked for you to be our US coffee ambassador this year! Best of luck in ATL, see you there.

Mar 10, 2009
tif

congrats man! way to do chicago proud!

Mar 10, 2009
Greg Lefcourt

Good work man. See you in Hotlanta!

Mar 10, 2009
Daniel Gunter

Thanks again! I hope to find myself in Chicago sometime, I'm just not sure when. I'd love to get coffee from you in your natural environment, haha. And I'm sure you've heard it enough, but congratulations! You did one hell of a job, kind sir.

Mar 10, 2009
tif

i manage noble tree on clark. you should come by sometime when i'm working. i may not be a champ but i'd love to pull a shot for one.

Mar 10, 2009
tif

weird. maybe me...

Mar 10, 2009
Bre

backstage jitters?! you did awesome, obviously. congrats again! oh, and good luck in the WORLD(BC).

Mar 11, 2009
trish rothgeb

OMG you're amazing
congratulations once again!

Mar 11, 2009
Jared Truby

I've been trying to add you as a friend since '86...it won't let me. Why must they keep the bromance apart! Your the shit, stoked for you man. Genuinely stoked

Mar 12, 2009
Jared Truby

good hell, you are a shining beacon from heaven...

your in the circle of trust in the nest of the tree....

Mar 12, 2009
Tony Serrano

Kudos from the Bay Area. Good luck in ATL. Hit me up and I'll send you a congratulatory bag o' goods from Barefoot.

Cheers!

Mar 12, 2009
Bre

ha. i thought jared said you were a shining bacon from heaven for a split second.

Mar 14, 2009
Leo Li

Hi Michael,

respect your amazing skills long time!
twice on Red eye!
Absolutely, i will definitely keep studying from those amazing baristas.
hope to see you around and good luck for your next world coming Contest!

Please stop by my spot at : 1813 dempster "Pick a Cup" anytime you free.

Respect,

Yang

Mar 15, 2009
Leo Li

PS:
Michael, I am looking for an part-time barista position now, is there any opening shift in your spot or anywhere you know?

Yang

Mar 15, 2009
Liz Clayton

remember last week?

Mar 15, 2009
Claire Marie

Be careful when you offer a barista all the coffee they can drink, I take it as a personal challenge...See you in Chicago soon! ....Or whenever I save up all my tips :)

Mar 16, 2009
Drew Woods

congrats, man. thanks for pulling us shots while we waited for the results to come in.

Mar 18, 2009
Trevor

Hey, you wanna trade trophies?

Mar 18, 2009
Jared Truby

glad your enjoyin it...

your beans were like sex in my mouth. in every possible awkward way you could think of it.

that's how winner coffee is...

Mar 20, 2009
Jess Kelly

scary? really?! haha i was at the roastery in august with 3 other ladies, we were not a fierce bunch, though :) i'm moving to columbus ohio (coffee wasteland) in june , so i'll definitely jump a bus to chicago to get my intelli fix.

Mar 21, 2009
Miro

Mike, im going to be in Chicago this weekend. Will you be rocking a shift while im there?

Mar 26, 2009
Miro

Will do Mike. See you this weekend.

I'll bring you some Ugly coffee.

Mar 26, 2009
Sara Travis

Did I see u with a PBR in Barista Magazine this month?

Mar 29, 2009
tif

it was awesome to finally meet you face to face!
bomb ass macchiatto. but what else would i expect?

Mar 29, 2009
Miro

Mike thank you for being so humble. I had some of that Kenyan this morning and it was baller as hell. Thank you for everything. Lemme know if you get a chance to try that coffee i roasted for ya. Take care brother.

Oh and by the way, if i want to get at you which one should i contact? T,C,or F?
I'm assuming its not F.
C?

Mar 30, 2009
Devon

I'm scouting a few different neighborhoods right now. Any suggestions of a location that really needs one? I see you work for Intelligentsia... I'm thinking of setting up a meeting soon.

Mar 31, 2009
Devon

Do you have a contact at Intelligentsia I could speak with about opening a cafe? I need to sit down with someone in charge of corporate roasting but don't have any contacts there yet.

Apr 1, 2009
tif

i do work this weekend.
friday and sunday 12-7
saturday 6:30-cl

Apr 1, 2009
Ryan Knapp

just shipped the package out....should be in tomorrow. I thew in some beans for you too.

Apr 2, 2009