For the true coffee lover who has a keen passion for preparing great espresso, who wouldn’t jump at the chance to train for a day with a world class expert barista? Yep, “Barista for a Day”.

Well, if you’re lucky enough to live in the Columbus, Ohio area, premier coffee roaster CrimsonCup is offering just an opportunity. See the press release – Local Specialty Coffee Shop Offers Chance to Learn from Espresso Expert Armando.

And who is Armando? Armando Escobar is the CEO of CrimsonCup, but not the type of CEO you might be thinking. He is CrimsonCup’s Chief Espresso Officer. Now that’s a very respectable title! According to his bio, Armando Escobar has spent the last 28 years training over 500 coffee house owners across the country how how to open a successful coffee business.

And some lucky contest winner will get to spend a day with Armando and learn some of the tricks and techniques from a true master. What great fun!

This is exactly the kind of interaction and engagement with customers that is too often missing in the specialty coffee business. And I think premium coffee houses are missing an opportunity to expand business, attract customers and create some loyal fans.

How often do you find a local coffee house or specialty roaster that is willing to put on classes, conduct coffee tastings with the customers, put on coffee roasting seminars, offer barista training, … Coffee house proprietors that have true coffee passion and experience have much to give and share. And I jump at the chance to expand my knowledge this way. Unfortunately, the opportunity doesn’t come up very often.

I think CrimsonCup has the right idea and should get some good mileage out of this contest promotion. And some lucky coffee lover will have a lot of fun spending a day with Armando Escobar, I’m sure!