I've fancied myself a more than capable coffee connoisseur since learning how to make my very own cappuccino on a countertop espresso machine in my kitchen. After months of trial and error, I'd satisfactorily determined how long to pull the espresso shot and steam the milk for my personal enjoyment. I thought I was in a league of my own. Yeah, I was wrong.

A barista competition might not evoke images of training sessions lasting into the night, or enough blood, sweat and tears to fill a few espresso demitasse cups, but for the last two months, this has been Daria Whalen and Wolfie Barn's reality.