The clock ticked from 10 minutes to zero.

The barista behind the counter made the two drinks as fast as possible while the judges waited at a table nearby, listening to the clanking and whipped topping sprays of an original creation being perfected.

Two beverages and the 10-minute time slot later, the first creation, one for taste and one for show, was presented to the judges just as the aromas and sounds of automatic shots being pulled by the espresso machines lingered behind the cafe walls.

“So, tell me what inspired you to make this … what’s in it … how’d you get the idea?” the judges asked as they took their first sips.

The second annual Barista Competition was held Wednesday at the Gerdin Business Cafe.

Hosted by ISU Dining with judges from Caribou Coffee and the Roasterie, which supplies coffee to the campus cafes.

Twelve cafe employees submitted original recipes and were selected for the competition but only 11 would be competing, said Dan Fincham, ISU Dining supervisor of five campus cafes.

Participants were encouraged to use ingredients and syrups on hand so that ISU Dining had the potential to put the drinks on menus by fall.

Unlike last year, the schedule displayed various different drinks from “Cookie Monster Mocha” to “Mint Chocolate Chip Mocha” and “Cake Batter Mocha.”

“They’re all different this year,” Fincham said.

Paul Wedemeyer, senior in management information systems, participated for his second time and was inspired by chocolate whipped topping when developing his recipe. 

Julia Lihs, sophomore in agriculture and life sciences education, was inspired by mint chocolate chip ice cream while walking through the grocery store.

“Mine’s perfect,” she said, smiling. “You can’t taste the espresso.”

Lihs said her drink isn’t green and has a weird tint to it. But it didn’t bother her.

“But it’s not what’s on the outside, it’s what’s on the inside that matters,” she said. 

The judges scored on inspiration, creativity, taste, presentation and gave an overall rating, said Kristi Patel, ISU Dining assistant director.

Most of the judges agreed that creativity was the biggest thing to consider in addition to whether it’s something new from what is featured on campus cafe menus.

Tricia Buesing, senior in history, is a Bookends Cafe employee and the first place winner of the competition. 

Buesing’s “Grasshopper” creation was a mixture of green mint syrup and white chocolate sauce. 

“It was a very, very well-made drink,” said Zach Althaus, head educator for the Roasterie. “It was a simple one.”

Beusing’s winning drink received a potential spot on ISU Dining cafe menus and an iPod Nano.

Those who participated received $10 ISU Dining gift cards and Roasterie coffee mugs.