How wonderful to announce that Capitol Hill’s very own coffee shop swept the board at a recent java-making contest.
Murky’s entered two employees in the South East Region Barista Competition. They came in, 1st and 2nd.
Ryan Jensen, 25, manager of the popular 7th Street, SE, hang-out, walked away, not only with top honors, but with a $6,000 espresso machine.

Katie Carguilo, 22, a student at George Washington University, who divides her working time between the Capitol Hill Murky’s and the new café in Arlington, was placed 2nd.

They faced tough competition - from 31 other contestants, drawn from Florida to Delaware. The challenge was to make 4 single espressos, 4 cappuccinos and four servings of a “signature” brew, in 15 minutes. Ryan’s winning entry was a steamed concoction of espresso, coconut and whole milk, infused with cardamon.

He then went onto compete in the national competition in Seattle. He was placed a respectable 20th out of 46.
Delighted with his success, Ryan, who hails from Fergus Falls, Minnesota, and has just got a masters in liberal arts from St John’s College, Annapolis, says: “I put it all down to good training at Murky’s.”

His boss, Murky’s owner, Nick Cho, explains: “We’re very plugged into the speciality coffee community.” While extremely proud of Ryan and Katie’s achievements he says: “We see coffee like a faith. The barista contests are all to do with spreading the good coffee message. They’re not about winning.”
But how nice to...!