Denver Qualifier Finalists Announced

The first CoffeeChamps Qualifying Event for the 2018-2019 season was held in Denver, CO on December 1-2, 2018. Nearly 200 coffee professionals from all over the country gathered to compete to qualify in the U.S. Coffee Championships, which will be held March 15, 2019 in Kansas City, MO. View the finalists for each of the 5 qualifying competitions – Barista, Brewers, Coffee in Good Spirits, Cup Tasters, and Roaster – and the full rankings below.

Miss the Denver qualifying event? Watch the recording of our livestream, made possible by Pacific Foods Barista Series.

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Barista Qualifying Competition Finalists

  1. Sam Neely, Switchback Coffee Roasters

  2. Andrea Allen, Onyx Coffee Lab

  3. Emily Orendorff, Boxcar Coffee Roasters

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Brewers Cup Qualifying Competition Finalists

  1. Jacob White, Bird Rock Coffee Roasters

  2. Kaley Gann, Messenger Coffee

  3. Justin McCormick-Goodhart, Sweet Bloom Coffee

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Coffee in Good Spirits Qualifying Competition Finalists

  1. Sam Schroeder, Olympia Coffee

  2. Kimhak Em, Peixoto Coffee Roasters

  3. Joshua Smith, West Oak Coffee Bar

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Cup Tasters Qualifying Competition Finalists

  1. Sebastian Legner, Copper Door Coffee Roasters

  2. Chris Kornman, Royal Coffee

  3. Jen Apodaca, Royal Coffee

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Roaster Qualifying Competition Finalists

  1. Andrew Oberholzer, Joe Coffee Co

  2. Shelby Williamson, Huckleberry Roasters

  3. Jen Apodaca, Royal Coffee

Photos courtesy of Sprudge, official media partner of the U.S. Coffee Championships.

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