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NINE BARS continued from page 51 Katie Coughlin. Gray, who has helped organize local barista jams to build coffee community in Victoria, says this compe- tition furthers those commu- nity-building efforts, and he hopes it catches on. "It gives you that seriousness of a com- petition and pushes us to use our skills, but it does it in that kind of fun and more playful way," he says. "I think we need to have those kind of events at the big events. It softens the atmosphere a lot." W hile Barber doesn't yet have concrete plans for the next International Pairs Invitational, he does have high hopes for Victoria—and its connection to an even higher-profile coffee competition. "I'm really trying to bring the World Barista Championship to Victoria," he says. "That's my whole goal of starting this event: to prove to the world that it's possible to have the world championship here." AMONG THE EVENTS at August's For The Love of Coffee in Victoria was the Western Regional Barista Competition. Gray of Discovery, who was born and raised in Victoria, thinks the city has the coffee community to support host- ing such a big event. "We have some of the highest per-cap- ita micro-roasters and high- end cafés," he says. "I think Victoria has that perfect com- munity that would just jump behind it completely. It would be amazing." And while the scale of For the Love of Coffee pales in com- parison to the "marquee event" nature of the World Barista Championship, Barber says the August event was an important first step in establishing the city as a capable host. His hope is that the WBC will come to Victoria in the next decade. "I think we actually have the backing in place now with the city, the government, the country and big industry here," he says. "I know it costs a lot of money to bring the worlds here, but I'm hoping. We would be a very good host." freshcup.com October 2011 53 COURTESY OF REG BARBER