U.S. Barista Championships’ Top Six. Photo: jenn.hall.photo
That’s a wrap for the 2020 U.S. Coffee Championships qualifiers and nationals in Orange County, California!
The U.S. Barista Champion is Onyx Coffee Lab’s Andrea Allen, who will go on to represent the U.S. at the World Barista Championship in Melbourne, Australia, in May. Placing behind Allen were: Kay Cheon, Dune Coffee Roasters; Sam Neely, Amethyst Coffee Company; Sam Spillman, Dillanos Coffee Roasters; Isaiah Sheese, Archetype Coffee; and Anthony Ragler, Black and White Coffee Roasters.
Onyx earned more bragging rights as two more of their team earned top honors in Brewers Cup: Elika Liftee and Lance Hedrick placed first and second, followed by Weihong Zhang (BlendIn Coffee Club), Paul Menefee (Archetype Coffee), Tyler Duncan (Topeca Coffee Roasters), and John Kruegler (Blanchard’s Coffee Roasting Company). Liftee will join Allen in representing the U.S. at the World Coffee Championships in Melbourne.
From the Cup Tasters round the top 16 qualifiers are: Charles Gonzalez, Synesso; Ken Selby, Blossom Coffee Roasters; Alexandra Hager, CJ Foodville USA; Steve Hyun, independent; Katie Britt, Red Banner Coffee Roasters; Jonathan Whalen, Mr. Espresso; Rev. Thomas J. Chandler III, Black Oak Coffee Roasters; Steve Cuevas, Black Oak Coffee Roasters; Will Andrews, Press Coffee Roasters; Spencer Aidukaitis, Peixoto Coffee; Andrew Coe, Elevator Cafe & Commons; Talitha Clemons, independent; Sarah Fillmore, Keffa Coffee; Juan Gutierrez, Menotti’s Coffee Stop; Ryan Jie Jiang, independent; and Taylor Sullivan, Philz Coffee.
Qualifying for the Coffee in Good Spirits finals are: Alexandra Hager, CJ Foodville USA; Meghan-Annette Reida, independent; Kelsey Maccombs, Glitter Cat; Jen McElroy, Klatch Coffee; Danny Storll, Augie’s Coffee; John Maniquis, The Point; Dakota Graff, Onyx Coffee Lab; Stevie Hasemeyer, Arcade Coffee Roasters; Matt Kumar, independent; Rob J. Rodriguez, Night Shift Brewing; Gianna De Maria, Oregon Coffee Board; and Becca DeBoer, Spyhouse Coffee Roasters.
Last, but not least, the top qualifiers for the Roaster Championship include: Joe Yang, In J Cafe; Rudy Altamirano, Ilustre Coffee; Ho Young Chae, Gabee Coffee; Brian Gomez, The Roasted Bean LLC; Lydia Nolen, Augie’s Coffee; Anca O’Malley, Infusion Coffee and Tea Crafters; Steve Cuevas, Black Oak Coffee Roasters; Andrew Coe, Elevator Cafe & Commons; Matthew Selivanow, Kafiex Roasters; Brian Clemens, Relevant Coffee; Nicholas Berardi, Mostra Coffee; and Ting Shen, ASIP Coffee Roasters.
The finalists will move on to the Cup Tasters, Coffee in Good Spirits, and Roaster Championships in Portland, Oregon, April 24-26.
