U.S. Coffee Championships 2023 Baltimore Qualifiers Results

U.S. Coffee Championships 2023 Baltimore Qualifiers Results

U.S. Coffee Championships 2023 Denver Qualifiers Reach New Heights

The next group of coffee champions moves on to nationals at the Denver qualifiers. BY KATE VAN PETTENSPECIAL TO BARISTA MAGAZINE Photos by Matthew Temple and courtesy of Specialty Coffee Association The high-flying world of U.S. CoffeeChamps competitions reached new heights as coffee professionals flocked to the Denver qualifiers for the 2023 season, hosted in […]


Brewing at Home and on the Road with Justin Pierce

In this series, we ask coffee professionals how they like to drink their coffee while at home and when traveling. BY TANYA NANETTISENIOR ONLINE CORRESPONDENT Feature photo courtesy of Justin Pierce Coffee professionals tend to spend most of their days brewing coffee. Baristas brew coffee behind the bar for their customers. Roasters brew it to […]


The Slingshot Chalice Puts a New Spin on Espresso Dosing

Hong Kong and Australia-based coffee equipment maker Slingshot Technology recently launched the Chalice Distributor Cup, a multipurpose espresso preparation tool for baristas. Displayed in its final production form at the…


Interest in coffee & health is rising – what do consumers need to know?

There is a wealth of scientific research available about the many health benefits of coffee – as well as the undesirable side effects of drinking too much. But like all fields of science, research about the impact of drinking coffee on human health is ever-changing as we uncover new findings.  Interestingly, the continuous discovery of […]

U.S. Coffee Championships 2023 Baltimore Qualifiers Results

How to Make the Best Coffee at Home By James Hoffmann: Book Review 

James Hoffmann’s new book, How to Make the Best Coffee at Home, is finally out, and is the perfect guide for both professionals and amateurs. BY TANYA NANETTISENIOR ONLINE CORRESPONDENT Photos by Tanya Nanetti James Hoffmann is one of the most recognizable people in the world of specialty coffee. His YouTube channel is both informative […]


How do you roast coffee for milk?

It’s impossible to deny just how popular milk-based coffee drinks (such as the flat white, latte, and cappuccino) are in coffee shops around the world. According to 2020 data from Project Café USA, the latte was the most ordered drink in the UK, and the third-most popular beverage in US coffee shops. In line with […]


Know Your Sweeteners: Agave: Part Two—Environmental Concerns

Agave has become an increasingly popular sweetener in the coffee industry. But is it as environmentally friendly as people claim it to be? BY EMILY JOY MENESESBARISTA MAGAZINE ONLINE Featured photo sourced via Pixabay In recent years, you may have noticed an increase in demand for “alternative sweeteners” like agave. While today, the nectar serves […]


In Tbilisi, Parsek1 Merges Comic Books with Specialty Coffee

We take a look at how this innovative café has changed the face of comics and coffee in the capital of Georgia. BY VASILEIA FANARIOTISENIOR ONLINE CORRESPONDENT Photos courtesy of Parsek1 When it comes to coffee and comic books, Japan is a longtime leader in the field. Manga cafés have been around for decades, combining […]

U.S. Coffee Championships 2023 Baltimore Qualifiers Results

PRF El Salvador announces speakers and panellists

Following a call for applications in October 2022, Producer & Roaster Forum (PRF) has announced its first speakers and panellists for PRF El Salvador. The two-day forum will be held on 16 and 17 March 2023 at the Salamanca Exhibition Centre in San Salvador. The event is set to return to El Salvador after it […]


Congrats to the Top-Ranking Qualifiers at U.S. CoffeeChamps Denver

Dozens of coffee professionals competed at qualifiers this weekend in Colorado for coveted spots at the U.S. Coffee Championships next month. BY J. MARIE CARLANBARISTA MAGAZINE ONLINE Cover photo by J. Marie Carlan For competitive coffee professionals in the USA, the U.S. Coffee Championships are the place to be. Over the weekend, the second USCC […]


4 Coffee Shops Worth a Visit in Madrid

In recent years, the Spanish capital has developed a vibrant specialty-coffee scene. Here are some cool cafés to visit for a caffeine fuel-up. BY TANYA NANETTISENIOR ONLINE CORRESPONDENT Featured photo by Jorge Fernández Salas via Unsplash The espresso bar at HanSo. HanSo Café, a Perfect Spot for Breakfast   In Chinese, HanSo roughly translates to “a […]


The Color of Coffee Collective Symposium Returns for Its Second Year

The collective and the nonprofit Koffee with Keith will hold their second annual symposium in Houston on March 10-12. BY J. MARIE CARLANBARISTA MAGAZINE ONLINE Photos courtesy of the Color of Coffee Collective The Color of Coffee Collective (COCC) is an organization that seeks to promote equity and opportunity for people of color in the […]

U.S. Coffee Championships 2023 Baltimore Qualifiers Results

U.S. Coffee Championships 2023 Baltimore Qualifiers Results

minimum dose size?

I use the Hario switch to brew my coffee and am trying to reduce my caffeine consumption. Hence I would like to brew smaller cups of coffee. I am currently using 10g of coffee with 160g of water. (1:16 Ratio) I am wondering if there is a minimum amount of coffee...

U.S. Coffee Championships 2023 Baltimore Qualifiers Results

More than 100 competitors brought their talent to Baltimore to take part in six competitions, and 63 will progress to nationals in April.

BY NATE KLOCK
BARISTA MAGAZINE ONLINE

Photos by Matthew Temple courtesy of the U.S. Coffee Championships

Last weekend, my hometown welcomed the U.S. Coffee Championships (USCC) qualifiers with the charm only Baltimore could bring.

The festivities began on Thursday with a meetup at Ceremony Coffee’s Harbor Point location, which boasts a baby-blue Synesso Hydra and a beautiful waterfront view of the Inner Harbor and the iconic Domino Sugar sign, a sign that I call home.

Friday brought judges and competitors to the convention center for practice and calibration. USCC’s first qualifying event for 2023 brought competitors from Florida to California to compete in six different categories: Barista, Brewers Cup, Coffee In Good Spirits, Cup Tasters, Roaster, and Latte Art.

Rows of black cupping vessels are lined up on a long table for cup tasters to try.
Cup tasters were tasked with triangulating six groups of coffee, a true test of the palate.

Competitions

The Cup Tasters rounds were fast-paced and silent except for competitors slurping and spitting, racing to triangulate six groups of coffee. “We are only competing against our own palates,” the cup-tasting emcee reminded competitors. Although the competition was underway, we could only hope to be better coffee professionals than we were yesterday.

The Brewers Cup and Barista competitors presented coffees they were passionate about and told stories that aligned with their values, connecting us to the coffee, the competitor, and the community.

A barista/bartender pours a yellow cocktail in a fluted glass for the Coffee in Good Spirits contest, with onlookers in the background.
The Coffee In Good Spirits competition required an assortment of coffee cocktail creations.

Roasters were sent 20 pounds of green Rwandan coffee and brought their best roast to showcase. Coffee In Good Spirits competitors were tasked with making hot and cold boozy coffee cocktails.

Latter art in two dark blue mugs, which appears to be a fancy seahorse design.
Latte artists were tasked with two free-pour lattes and two designer ones.

Latte art competitors were challenged with duplicating two free-pour lattes and two designer lattes. No matter the competition, it was clear that everyone spent hours practicing prior to the weekend.

Charm City

Baltimore graciously welcomed the coffee community. Keffa Coffee hosted those looking to unwind Saturday evening with Wagyu beef hot dogs, drinks, and a light-hearted latte art throwdown. Those who signed up steamed milk on La Marzocco Modbar steam modules alongside their competitor to show their best latte. Local roasters who donated coffee for the event included Thread Coffee Roasters, Vigilante Coffee Roasters, Sophomore Coffee, Black Acres Roastery, Small Planes, Red Rooster Coffee, and Lost Sock Roasters. They provided their talent for use in both competitions and the café, which sustained us for the long competition days.

A barista prepares their setup in Baltimore.

Next Up: Denver, March 3-5

The second USCC will be held March 3-5 in Denver. The highest-ranking competitors will compete in the nationals on April 21-23 in Portland, Ore., at the Specialty Coffee Expo, joining those who qualified in Baltimore for a chance to win their respective competitions at the 2023 U.S. Coffee Championships.

Judges hard at work tasting espresso for the Barista competition.

The champions from the U.S. national competitions will represent the USA in the World Coffee Championships. The World Barista, Brewers, and Cup Tasters Championships will take place in Athens, Greece, June 22-24, while the World Latte Art, Coffee In Good Spirits, and Roasting Championships will be happening in Taipei, Taiwan, November 17-20.

Competitor registration for the Denver qualifier is open until February 17. Consider registering, volunteering, or spectating at this prestigious event.

A group of 18 baristas pose for the winner photo, all of varying ages, gender identities and backgrounds. The front of the group kneels, and the top three winners hold up wooden plaques.
Barista Qualifying Competition winners pose together. First place was Juan Diaz (front row center); Elisabeth Johnson (bottom row, second from left) finished second; and third place was Hugo Cano (bottom row, fifth from left).

Winners at the Baltimore Qualifiers

BARISTA QUALIFYING COMPETITION (27 competitors total):

#1. Juan Diaz, KWC, Orlando, Fla.

#2. Elisabeth Johnson, Dayglow, Los Angeles

#3. Hugo Cano, Amberson Coffee, Indianapolis

#4. Jake McFarland, Black & White Coffee, Raleigh, N.C.

#5. Addison Mathis, PERC Coffee, Decatur, Ga.

#6. Dakota Graff, Onyx Coffee Lab, Rogers, Ark.

#7. Meg Skop, Independent, San Francisco

#8. Jinwoo Ahn, Cafe Grumpy, Brooklyn, N.Y.

#9. Jamie Patel, Co Trade Imports, Wake Forest, N.C.

#10. Christian Bak, Independent, Reno, Nev.

#11. Maya Crowley, Nguyen Coffee Supply, Essex, Vt.

#12. Austin Bowers, Methodical Coffee, Greenville, S.C.

#13. Q Miller-Edwards, De Fer Coffee and Tea, Pittsburgh

#14. Jorge Amador, Soluna PGH, Pittsburgh

#15. David Yardley, Moon Goat Coffee, Santa Ana, Calif.

#16. Jay Caragay, Spro Coffee, Cockeysville, Md.

#17. Lynn Hrabovsky, Soul at the Joseph, Columbus, Ohio

#18. Sabrina Denham, Not Your Average Joe, Norman, Okla.

BREWERS CUP QUALIFYING COMPETITION (19 competitors total):

1. Weihong Zhang, Blendin Coffee Lab, Pearland, Texas

2. Isaiah Sheese, Archetype Coffee, Omaha, Neb.

3. Peace Sakulclanuwat, Coffee Project NY, New York

4. C Hughes, Amberson Coffee, Indianapolis

5. Joseph Burns, Ghost Coffee Collab, Pittsburgh

6. John Dixon, Jubala Coffee, Raleigh, N.C.

7. Shaa’ista Sabir, PERC Coffee Roasters, Ellenwood, Ga.

8. Andres Morales, Coffee Project NY, New York

9. Jillion Potter, Helm Coffee, Indiana

10. Ryan Bui, Mercanta North America, Seattle

11. Steve Kim, Rare Bird Coffee Roasters, Arlington, Va.

12. Max Phills, Loveless Coffee, Brooklyn, N.Y.

COFFEE IN GOOD SPIRITS QUALIFYING COMPETITION (5 competitors total):

1. Mo Koolphanich, Slipstream, DC, Arlington, Va.

2. Ivan Solis, Recuerdos Coffee Co., Decatur, Ga.

3. Gregory White, Independent, Raleigh, N.C.

4. Louis Elguera, Coatl Coffee, Vista, Calif.

LATTE ART QUALIFYING COMPETITION (7 competitors total):

1. Tracy Jiang, Intelligentsia Coffee, Medford, Mass.

2. Edward Griffin, Messenger Coffee, Kansas City, Mo.

3. Julie Patadia, Coffee Project NY, New York

4. Donald Perdomo, Independent, Hastings-on-Hudson, N.Y.

5. Abdulqader Dali, Three Whistles, Arlington, Va.

6. Camilo Sanchez Gomez, Nativus/Red House, Newark, N.Y.

ROASTER QUALIFYING COMPETITION (21 competitors total):

1. Luke Jung, Luce Coffee Roasters, Houston

2. Matt Saperstone, Nilaa Coffee, Philadelphia

3. Tony Auger, Goshen Coffee Roasters, Edwardsville, Ill.

4. Soonhee Ka, Jejes Coffee Roasters, Sharon, Mass.

5. Tio Fallen, Three Keys Coffee, Houston

6. Paul Ahn, Madcap Coffee Company, Grand Rapids, Mich.

7. Hee Su Chang, Gabee Coffee Roasters, Broomfield, Colo.

8. Michael Matthews, Alinea Coffee Roasters, Metairie, La.

CUP TASTERS QUALIFYING COMPETITION (31 competitors total):

#1. Tom Bomford, Black Fox Coffee, New York

#2. Inwook Park, Fairwave Coffee Collective, Kansas City, Mo.

#3. Bear Soliven, Onyx Coffee Lab, Fayetteville, Ark.

#4. Katie Britt, Red Banner Coffee Roasters, Morley, Mo.

#5. El Roland, Keffa Coffee, Inc., Baltimore

#6. Ryan Hudson, Broad Porch Coffee, Luray, Va.

#7. Beatriz Garay, Mayorga Coffee, Rockville, Md.

#8. Tony Auger, Goshen Coffee Roasters, Edwardsville, Ill.

#9. Michael Nuziato, Broadsheet Coffee Roasters, Sommerville, Mass.

#10. Helen Choi, Luce Coffee Roasters, Houston

#11. Michael Matthews, Alinea Coffee Roasters, Metairie, La.

#12. Ben Masino, Gaia Coffee Co, Lewes, Del.

#13. Luke Jung, Luce Coffee Roasters, Houston

#14. Daniel Borras, Perc Coffee Roasters, Atlanta

#15. Eduardo Choza, Mayorga Coffee, Rockville, Md.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Nate Klock (he/him) is an espresso technician at Thread Coffee Roasters in Baltimore. When he’s not tinkering with machines, he enjoys cooking, painting, and poetry in the apartment he shares with his boyfriend and cat.

The post U.S. Coffee Championships 2023 Baltimore Qualifiers Results appeared first on Barista Magazine Online.

Shopping cart0
There are no products in the cart!
Continue shopping
0