Over the weekend of December 9-10, 2017, coffee professionals from around the country gathered in Reno, NV for the United States Coffee Championships Qualifying Competitions. The competitors listed below will be moving on to compete at the national championships in Seattle, WA this spring!
BARISTA Qualifying COMPETITION
(36 competitors total)
#1. Reef Bessette, Saint Frank Coffee, San Francisco (Score: 279)
#2. Eli Ramirez, Halfwit Coffee Roasters, Chicago (Score: 277)
#3. Cole McBride, Independent, Seattle (Score: 270.5)
#4. Kay Cheon, Dune Coffee Roasters, Santa Barbara, Calif. (Score: 265.5)
#5. Naida Lindberg, Verve Coffee, Santa Cruz, Calif. (Score: 260.5)
#6: Edward Griffin, PT’s Coffee, Topeka, Kan. (Score: 258.5)
#7. Mike Marquard, Blueprint Coffee, St. Louis (Score: 257.5)
#8. Emily Orendorff, Boxcar Coffee Roasters, Denver (Score: 250)
#9. Chelsea Rae, The Roost, Lawrence, Kan. (Score: 250)
#10. Lizzie Rodrigue, Bluebeard Coffee Roasters, Tacoma, Wash. (Score: 248.5)
#11. Howard Chang, Space Craft Coffee, Brooklyn, N.Y. (Score: 247.5)
#12. Shepherd Wadley, Huckleberry Roasters, Denver (Score: 247)
#13. Mike Greene, Stovetop Roasters, Holland, Mich. (Score: 246.5)
#14. David Castillo, Joe Coffee Co., New York (Score 244.5)
#15. Erin Tarectecan, Crema Coffee House, Denver (Score: 235)
#16. Tae-Wan Kim, Brew Well, Kindness and Mischief, Arcadia, Calif. (Score: 233)
#17. Heather McCullough, Novo Coffee, Denver (Score: 226.5)
#18: Sam Brown, Pilcrow Coffee, Milwaukee (Score: 225)
BREWERS CUP QUALIFYING COMPETITION
(31 Competitors Total)
#1. Justin Goodhart, Sweet Bloom, Denver (Score: 161.14)
#2. Jacob White, Bird Rock Coffee Roasters, San Diego (Score: 157.94)
#3. Sloane Wachob, Novo Coffee, Denver (Score: 157.5)
#4. Sam Schroeder, Olympia Coffee Roasting Co, Olympia, Wash. (Score: 156.03)
#5. Emmeline Wang, Saint Frank Coffee, Fremont, Calif. (Score: 155.59)
#6. Matt Foster, Kaldi's Coffee Roasting Co, St. Louis (Score: 155.19)
#7. Jennifer Hwang, Klatch Coffee, Rancho Cucamonga, Calif. (Score: 155.13)
#8. Andy Tan, Equator Coffees and Teas, Fairfax, Calif. (Score: 155)
#9. Michael White, Independent, Baltimore (Score: 154.95)
#10. Jason Miller, Mazarine Coffee, San Francisco (Score: 154.3)
#11. Blair Smith, Augie's Coffee Roasters, Calimesa, Calif. (Score: 153.48)
#12. Jon Frech, Black Oak Coffee Roasters, Ukiah, CA (Score: 152.58)
#13. Kelly Hill, Temple Coffee Roasters, Sacramento (Score: 151.19)
#14. Samantha Sun, La Colombe, Brooklyn (Score: 151.13)
ROASTER QUALIFYING COMPETITION
(29 Competitors Total)
#1. Evan Inatome, Elixr Coffee, Philadelphia (Score: 129.46)
#2. Ian Picco, Topeka Coffee Roasters, Tulsa, Okla. (Score: 125.67)
#3. Andrew Oberholzer, Joe Coffee Co., New York (Score: 124.71)
#4. Taylor Gresham, Evocation Coffee Roasters, Canyon, Texas (Score: 122.53)
#5. Janine Cindy, Joe Bean Coffee Roasters, Rochester, N.Y. (Score: 121.75)
#6. Evan Schubarth, Switchback Coffee Roasters, Colorado Springs, Colo. (Score: 121.71)
CUP TASTERS QUALIFYING COMPETITION
(33 Competitors Total)
#1. Tommy Tae U Kim, Balrog Coffee Roastery, Los Angeles (6 cups, 3:34)
#2. Eduard Andrusyak, Chocolate Fish Coffee Roasters, Sacramento, Calif. (6 cups, 5:34)
#3. Adam Christopher Snow, Beans & Bagels, Chicago (5 cups, 2:50)
#4. Charles Lambert, Boxcar Coffee Roasters, Boulder, Colo. (5 cups, 2:55)
#5. Ben Heins, Crop to Cup, Chicago (5 cups, 3:41)
#6. Ken Selby, Visions Espresso, Seattle (5 cups, 3:49)
#7. Austin Amento, Augie’s Coffee Roaster, Calimesa, Calif. (5 cups, 5:01)
#8. Matt Farewell, Dune Coffee Roasters, Santa Barbara, Calif. (5 cups, 5:52)
#9. Jennifer Hwang, Klatch Coffee, Rancho Cucamonga, Calif. (4 cups, 1:55)
#10. Jon Ferguson, Arbor Day Foundation, Lincoln, Neb. (4 cups, 2:15)
#11. Ian Picco, Topeka Coffee Roasters, Tulsa, Okla. (4 cups, 2:26)
#12. Jen McElroy, Klatch Coffee, Rancho Cucamonga, Calif. (4 cups, 2:39)
#13. Miguel Vicuna, Sweet Bloom, Denver (4 cups, 2:42)
#14. Spencer Aidukaits, Peixoto, Tempe, Ariz. (4 cups, 3:35)
#15. David Wilson, Coffeebar, Reno, Nev. (4 cups, 3:41)
