Next time you are in Calgary and looking to grab a cup of coffee, you have the opportunity to be served by one of the best baristas in the world.
Benjamin Put, co-founder of Calgary's Monogram Coffee, placed third at the World Barista Championship this weekend in Dublin, Ireland.
A total of 61 countries sent their best baristas to compete in this year's competition.
Competitors had just 15 minutes to make 12 different hot drinks for a panel of judges, from espressos to cappuccinos to original signature beverages.
"You have to do it perfectly. In a shop, normally, if I make a drink I'm not happy with, I can remake it and I can tweak things. But there, you have to make the best espresso, the best cappuccino of your entire life," Put told CTV News Channel from Dublin.
Adding to the pressure is the fact that the judging panel is made up of four of the "most picky judges in the whole world," he said. "It's a very intense 15 minutes."
This is the second year in a row that Put placed third. In 2014, he came in 11th.
Put has been a barista for 12 years, 10 of which he has spent working in Calgary.
He said one of the best parts of his job is watching how his long-time customers lives have changed over time, with many marrying and having kids. "That's kind of neat," he said.
I can't say I didn't want to win, but I can say how happy I am to serve coffee I was proud of, in a set that I loved, surrounded by friends.
— Benjamin Put (@Putankhamun) June 26, 2016