[D]edicated coffee professionals from around the country gathered in Kansas City, Missouri, March 15–17 to compete for national titles at the U.S. Coffee Championships, and the chance to represent the U.S. in the upcoming World Coffee Championships in Boston or Berlin. During the three-day-long event, five coffee competitions were held (Barista, Brewers Cup, Cup Tasters, Roaster, and Coffee in Good Spirits), each holding two qualifying rounds and culminating in one championship round.
One story that emerged from the multiple competitions was from returning 2018 U.S. Brewers Cup champion, Rose Woodard, who was automatically qualified to compete again this year. Instead of competing to win for a second year in a row, she used a majority of the time during her presentation to address her concerns about the “white, male, heteronormative perspective” that competitions—and judges—seem to favor.
“We see time and time again, female, gender non-conforming, and POC baristas getting points deducted on professionalism because they don’t fit into this narrow box that makes the majority of white male judges feel comfortable,” notes Woodard.
Those who would like to have an impact on the organization’s rules and regulations can complete an interest form to join the World Coffee Championships Rules & Regulations Committee. (https://airtable.com/shrICMt4zoWyfutWC)
Here is the complete ranking of this year’s U.S. Coffee Championships winners:
Barista
- Samantha Spillman, Dillanos Coffee Roasters, Seattle, WA
- Andrea Allen, Onyx Coffee Lab, Springdale, AR
- T. Ben Fischer, Elixr Coffee Roasters, Philadelphia, PA
- Dylan Siemens, Onyx Coffee Lab, Springdale, AR
- Sam Neely, Switchback Coffee Roasters, Colorado Springs, CO
- Emily Orendorff, Boxcar Coffee Roasters, Boulder, CO
Brewers Cup
- Kaley Gann, Messenger Coffee, Kansas City, MO
- Justin Goodhart, Sweet Bloom Coffee, Denver, CO
- Lance Hedrick, Onyx Coffee Lab, Springdale, AR
- Jacob White, Bird Rock Coffee Roasters, San Diego, CA
- Jennifer Hwang, Klatch Coffee, Rancho Cucamonga, CA
- Chelsey Walker-Watson, Atlas Coffee Importers, Seattle, WA
Coffee in Good Spirits
- Matt Foster, Kaldi’s Coffee Roasting Co, St. Louis, MO
- Sam Schroeder, Olympia Coffee, Olympia, WA
- Brodie Lewis, Madcap Coffee Co, Grand Rapids, CO
- Nathanael Mehrens, Stay Golden, Nashville, TN
- Joel Cronenberg, Provision Coffee, Gilbert, AZ
- Dakota Graff, Onyx Coffee Lab, Springdale, AR
Cup Tasters
- Jen Apodaca, Royal Coffee, Oakland, CA
- Summer Zhang, Onyx Coffee Lab, Springdale, AR
- Samuel Gurel, Sövda Coffee, Portland, OR
- Helen Choi, Luce Ave Coffee Roasters, Houston, TX
- Cameron Metzinger, Backyard Beans Coffee Co, Lansdale, PA
- Roman Deshong, Amethyst Coffee Co, Denver, CO
Roaster
- Shelby Williamson, Huckleberry Roasters, Denver, CO
- Hugh Morretta, La Colombe Coffee Roasters, Philadelphia, PA
- Mark Boccard, Southdown Coffee, Huntington, KY
- Janine Cundy, Joe Bean Coffee Roasters, Rochester, NY
- Steve Cuevas, Black Oak Coffee Roasters, Ukiah, CA
- Eric Stone, Mudhouse Coffee Roasters, Charlottesville, VA
