Maple Valley Coffee Shop Takes Grand Prize at Fair

2004 Archived News

Trisha Merlini of Java!Java! in Maple Valley took the grand prize in the Battle of the Baristas, a contest put together to help promote the King County Fair.

Twenty-one, South County espresso stands took part in selling discount-advanced tickets earlier this summer. A voting box made available opening day of the King County Fair allowed fairgoers to vote for their favorite baristas. The Battle of the Baristas winner was determined by a combination of the amount of advanced tickets sold and the number of votes received.

The participating espresso stands sold a total of 487 advanced tickets and 777 fairgoers cast their votes at the Battle of the Baristas booth. Merlini took the prize after selling 45 King County Fair tickets and receiving 64 votes for her java-making abilities.

A current Central Washington University senior, Trisha has worked for Java!Java! for eight years. She will receive $250 from Java!Java! Coffee Company, a bouquet of flowers from Buds and Blooms, a free haircut from Eden’s Gate Salon and Spa, two free smoothies from Emerald City Smoothie, a $10 gift certificate from Dijons Steakhouse, and three free tans from Solar Eclipse tanning salon.

For more information about the King County Fair, visit: http://www.metrokc.gov/parks/fair/.