U.S. COFFEE IN GOOD SPIRITS CHAMPIONSHIP
Beverage Professionals with experience in coffee, wine, and spirits will prepare a series of beverages for service for a panel of judges. These competitors mold together very different industries around what makes them similar and delicious together!
championship sponsors
The U.S. Coffee in Good Spirits Championship could not happen without the generous support of our Sponsors. Sponsorship is coordinated by the USCC Leadership Committee and organized with Championship Hosts. From equipment and gear to the use of space all contributions work to create an excellent competition experience for all.
ABOUT THE HOST
FORTUNA of Greensboro, NC
Fortuna's humble beginnings started in 2000 as a small importer catering to the local Italian business in Greensboro, North Carolina. In 2010, Fortuna Coffee became the roasting portion of the business introducing freshly locally roasted coffee to the Triad. Nearly 25 years later, Fortuna has grown to be known as the "one stop shop" providing complete, comprehensive, concept to completion solutions for both new and established coffee shops and restaurants. We are proud to have developed a reputation recognized throughout the country for top-of -the-line products, services, training, and customer care.
Fortuna's foundation continues to revolve around supporting the surrounding community. As we look back in history we see how coffee has brought community and new ideas together. Cafes today continue to hold these ideologies connecting people locally and globally. Competitions additionally provide a valuable platform bringing competitors together who push the boundaries of what the craft of this brown liquid can offer. This creativity and hunger for curiosity is what continues to inspire everyone involved in the competition sector. We want to continue nurturing the evolution of this industry molded by the innovation sparked by these aspiring individuals.
2025 u.s. coffee in good spirits champion
Jerry Truong
INDEPENDENT
LOS ANGELES, CA
2025 U.S. COFFEE IN GOOD SPIRITS FINALISTS
Photo by Jason Miller of Onyx Coffee Lab
U.S. Coffee Championships is proud to announce Jerry Truong of Los Angeles, CA as the 2025 U.S. Coffee in Good Spirits Champion! In Second & Third Place, respectively, Jerry is joined by Richelle Taylor of Olympia Coffee Roasters in Tacoma WA and Glen Ackermen of Moongoat Coffee Roasters in Costa Mesa, CA
Champion - Jerry Truong, Independent, Los Angeles, CA
2nd Place - Richelle Taylor, Olympia Coffee Roasters, Tacoma, WA
3rd Place - Glen Ackermen, Moongoat Coffee Roasters, Costa Mesa, CA
4th Place - Tim Tran, The Crown / Royal Coffee Lab, Berkeley, CA
5th Place - Natti Solowoniuk, Novo Coffee, Denver, CO
6th Place - Alex Bertrand, Goshen Coffee, Edwardsville, IL
QUALIFYING coffee in good spirits COMPETITORS
Competitors of the U.S. Coffee in Good Spirits Championship have qualified from two Regional Qualifying Events hosted by Messenger Coffee of Kansas City, MO, and Lavazza of Westchester, PA. Competitors with backgrounds and experience in coffee and spirits will serve designer coffee & alcohol based drinks to eager judges. These beverages will be evaluated and scored by panels of Nationally Ranked Coffee in Good Spirits Judges!
NATIONAL cigs COMPETITION JUDGES
Judges of the National Coffee in Good Spirits Championship have been trained and vetted by the Head Judges of the U.S. CIGS Committee throughout the 2025 Season. Judges have been invited from Regional Events, past Championships, and from other Competition Bodies. These judges go through an extensive Calibration Workshop where they come into consensus and discuss the various attributes of coffee in terms of quality. Judges are certified by the Head Judges of the U.S. CIGS Championship in recognition of their skills, fairness, and dedication for the Coffee in Good Spirits Championship.
COMPETITION VOLUNTEERS
The U.S. Coffee Championships are fully volunteer organized and produced. From leaders working year-round in the background to foster partnerships with sponsors and the U.S. Coffee Community to those in the grassroots initiatives of our Regional & National Events, everyone who contributes to the competition is here because of their dedication and support of specialty coffee and the people that make it up. These competitions would not exist and could not be produced without the dedicated support of these volunteers, judges, and partnerships. We don’t do it for the money, we do it for the love of coffee!
