The second U.S. Coffee Champs Qualifier Event for the 2019-2020 season took place in Nashville, TN January 11th-12th, 2020. Coffee professionals from all over the country gathered to witness qualifying competitions leading to the US Barista Championship and US Brewers Cup in Costa Mesa, CA, and the US Cup Tasters, Coffee In Good Spirits, and Roasters Championships in Portland, OR. View the finalists for each of the competitions and the full rankings below.
Miss the Nashville event? Watch the recording of the barista livestream, made possible by Pacific Foods Barista Series.
Barista Qualifier, title-sponsored by Pacific Barista Series:
1. Sam Spillman, Dillanos Coffee Roasters, Seattle, WA
2. Chelsea Kallman, Stay Golden Coffee Co, Nashville, TN
3. Avery Leith, Huckleberry Roasters, Denver, CO
Top 18 to USBC. Top 6 bye into Semi-Finals
Brewers Cup Qualifier, title-sponsored by Curtis:
1. Elika Liftee, Onyx Coffee Lab, Rogers, AR
2. Jennifer Hwang, Klatch Coffee, Los Angeles, CA
3. Ben Phillips, Stumptown Coffee, Brooklyn, NY
Top 15 to USBrC
Cup Tasters Qualifier, title-sponsored by Technivorm:
1. Chelsea Thoumsin, Independent, Durham NV
2. Jeff Mooney, Folly Coffee Roasters, Minneapolis, MN
3. Kim Nguyen, Intelligentsia Coffee, Chicago, IL
Top 16 to USCTC. Top 4 bye into Quarter-Finals
Coffee In Good Spirits Qualifier, title-sponsored by Faema:
1. Sam Schroeder, Olympia Coffee Seattle, WA
2. MiMo, Sey Coffee Brooklyn, NY
3. Jalen Kelly, Kaldi's Coffee Roasting Co, St. Louis, MO
Top 12 to USCIGS
Roaster Qualifier, title-sponsored by Savor Brands:
1. Ross Bryant, Boxcar Coffee, Roasters Boulder, CO
2. Jeremy Moore, Bonlife Coffee Roasters, Cleveland, TN
3. Evan Inatome, Elixr Coffee, Philadelphia, PA
Top 12 to USRC
Photos courtesy of Sprudge, official media partner of the U.S. Coffee Championships.
