Ohio Proud

Muggswigz Barista Qualifies for United States Barista Competitions

   Sean Hreha, from Muggswigz Coffee and Tea Company, has qualified for the Qualifying United States Barista Championship located in Nashville, TN occurring January 12-13, 2019. Having competed in the recent Preliminary Barista Competition held at the downtown Canton Muggswigz earlier this month, Sean, who works as a Skilled barista at the Portage Lakes location, made it through to the top 6 barista competitors who move on to the next level of competitions. The end goal for these competitors is to be crowned the World Barista Champion at the World Barista Championships in Boston, MA, in 2019.

   Sean has been a barista since 2015 and has proven to be a knowledgeable and highly skilled barista for the company. He began his career at the downtown Canton Muggswigz, working both as a barista and a saucier. He then moved to the Portage Lakes location when it opened in February of 2017. No matter which store he has worked at, he helped to make guests’ experience a delicious and happy one. Over the years, Muggswigz has produced many award winning competition baristas. They don’t just train baristas for competitions, but for everyday work behind the coffee and tea bar.

New Retail Coffee Bags

As of late, you may have noticed a difference in our bags. We have recently switched our retail bags to a new style, one that is better for both the coffee beans and the coffee drinkers alike.

The bag construction was designed by Alex Haas, Muggswigz Founder and is the first bag in the industry to put a window on the bottom of the bag. The bottom window allows you to see the beans while preventing harmful light from shining in. The rest of the bags have a reflective silver finish and allow for more bag space for printing. There are instructions on brewing guidelines for your coffee beans printed on the back of the bags to help you to keep the beans fresher for longer, as well as advises buyers on how to to brew the coffee as they would receive it at our stores. There is a higher quality, one way valve on the back, allowing for gases from the fresh coffee to escape and for guests to be able to inhale the aromas of the whole beans inside, but not allowing in any harmful oxygen. The original labels from the previous style bags still remain as visuals for the coffee's taste and smells. The coffee roast dates are still printed on the front of the bags to inform guests of when the coffee was roasted.

Next time you are in one of the shops or are buying our coffee from our online store, check out the new bags!

Barista Competition

Muggswigz Coffee and Tea Co. will be hosting a national Preliminary Coffee Competition in partnership with the Specialty Coffee Association, Arts in Stark, and Visit Canton. Canton is one of only ten national locations to host this event. On August 11th & August 12th, 2018, Muggswigz, who has been Canton’s local coffee shop, roastery, and wholesaler, since 2003, will open its downtown Canton location doors to competitors from all over the country. Muggswigz will be hosting the SCA Barista Competition Preliminaries. During the Competition Muggswigz will be hosting its second annual ‘Celebrating the Craft’ community event, bringing artists and craftspeople from all over Ohio to Canton to showcase and sell their works. There will be live music provided and raffle baskets throughout the day. The event will be free for non-competitors and all are invited to attend and watch.

Muggswigz has competed in national competitions in years previous, earning them the title of ‘3rd Best Coffeehouse in America’ in 2013, along with Semi Finalist in ‘America’s Best Espresso’, “The Golden Cup Award”,  and many more. Alexander Haas has been both a competitor and a Judge in coffee competitions nationally and internationally so this Preliminary Competition is a long time coming. “We've been involved with the specialty coffee industry for so long and have always had to go out of the state or country to participate in Specialty Coffee Association competitions. It's great that we can now bring an event like this to Canton and stay home!” .  This will be the first Specialty Coffee Association event ever held in Ohio !

Competitor tickets and vendor registration is available by going to www.eventbrite.com. Please visit http://www.uscoffeechampionships.org/ for more details.

Our Coffee & Tea Roots

     In the beginning, April of 2003, Muggswigz opened its doors and downtown Canton had it's only coffeeshop. Alex Haas had just graduated College in Rochester, NY,  and returned home to Canton, OH. Having fueled college with coffee and tea, he wanted his home town to have a place to find a good cup. Both for the sake of his hometown and for coffee and tea! Going off of a suggestion from a friend to start his own coffee shop business, and in pursuit of revitalizing downtown Canton, he did just that. Using his background in science and honing his culinary skills, Alex created Muggswigz (like taking a swig from a mug)  Coffee and Tea Company.

     Remodeling the space on Walnut and 2nd st. took a village, or in this case, helpful family and friends. What used to be an office suit is now a full coffee and tea bar as well as a performing stage for open mic nights. When the company first opened, Alex couldn't even afford an ice machine and had just started roasting coffee on a popcorn popper from the thrift store.

     Fast forward fifteen years and you have a 3rd Best Coffee House in America, USA Today's top ten pick of coffeehouses in America, etc. You have a company that roasts all of it's coffee, competition grade baristas, directly imports tea, a thriving wholesale department, baked goods and syrups made in house, and, of course, an ice machine.

     Muggswigz has educated the area in coffee and tea and has proudly seen many of the staff it introduced to coffee make coffee their career. The training the staff receives is second to none. Some of the staff Muggswigz has inspired go on in the industry to make waves at other companies or even start their own! Our positive impact on the industry spreads through all those Muggswigz Baristas as well as though the coffee and tea farmers we are fortunate enough to work with. Many other coffeeshops and boutiques have popped up since our doors have opened. A brewery has been built. People are finding more reasons to make Downtown Canton their destination, and they should. We are proud to call downtown Canton our home!