Spencer Keady has a fascination with coffee.

"I really like learning about coffee and telling people about it," said the barista at 25 30 Expresso at Princess Anne Street.

On Feb. 10 and Feb. 11, Keady, 22, will compete in the 2012 Southeast Regional Barista Competition in Georgia. This will be her first barista competition. She will compete against some of the best in the business.

"My expectations are low, so in case something good happens, I won't be completely dumbfounded," she said. "I'm really just doing it for fun."

The winner of the competition gets coffee brewing equipment and a trip to the national competition in Portland, Ore.

Keady, who drinks about four cups of brew a day, will be brewing her own competition coffee, an Ido sundried natural bean. She said the pulp remains on the bean when it is drying so the sugars carmelize on the bean. The brew is a bright, crisp taste that isn't sour.

"You get a lot of blueberry with orange zest acidity and a baker's chocolate finish," she said. "This coffee is awesome."