2020 Rules and Scoresheets Now Available for all U.S. CoffeeChamps Qualifying Competitions: Barista, Brewers Cup, Coffee in Good Spirits, Cup Tasters, and Roaster!
Dear U.S. Competitions Community,
Welcome to the 2020 Season of the U.S. Coffee Championships! We hope you are enjoying the Preliminaries and their kick-off of this season.
4 seasons ago, in 2017, we updated the format of the Qualifying Competitions. Barista competitors were tasked with making espressos and signature beverages for 4 sensory judges in 10 minutes. And, for both Barista and Brewers Cup, we added a non-scoring guest judge, offering audience members a seat at the table to experience competitions up close and personal.
3 seasons ago, in 2018, we introduced the Preliminaries. Small, local, community-driven events that created a space for new competitors and judges to enter and try out competitions. At the Preliminaries, Hosts provide the coffee, equipment, and tools that competitors need to make their sensory judges' delicious beverages.
Now, at the start of our 19th U.S. Barista Championship and 10th U.S. Brewers Cup seasons, we see a clear line of direction for progressing our competitors through the entire competition season. We want our competitors to feel successful at every stage of competition and showcase progressing levels of skill.
For the 2020 U.S. CoffeeChamps Barista Qualifying Competitions, competitors will make espressos and milk beverages for 4 sensory judges (2 scoring and 2 non-scoring). Competition time will be reduced from 10 minutes to 8 minutes, allowing for 5 additional competitor spots at each Qualifying Competition. The signature beverage round will now debut at USBC.
At the 2020 U.S. CoffeeChamps Brewers Cup Qualifying Competitions, we will be moving the compulsory area from a back room to the main stage to more closely match the layout of the World Brewers Cup stage. Compulsory service will still be 45 minutes of combined practice and competition time with no helper or coach assistance but now it will take place in full view of the CoffeeChamps audience. We want to showcase the hard work that goes into Compulsory Service and best prepare our competitors for the World Brewers Cup stage.
Coffee competitions in the U.S. have evolved so much in the last few years and we are excited to see where the 2020 season takes us!
Thank you,
Mallory Roth
U.S. Barista Competition Committee Chair
Sara Frinak
U.S. Brewers Cup Committee Chair
