Lem Butler wins the 2016 United States Barista Championship!

Five-time Regional Champ Lem Butler wins the 2016 United States Barista Championship

Lem Butler of Counter Culture Coffee won the 2016 United States Barista Championship today in Atlanta at the close of the Specialty Coffee Association of America Expo.

2015 USBC Champ, Charles Babinski, passes the torch ”er, trophy ”to Lem Butler, crowned the 2016 USBC Champ today.

Lem has won the Southeast Regional Barista Competition five times in the seven years he has been competing, making him among the most decorated barista champs in U.S. history. He lives with his family ”wife, Sarah, son, Emerson, and daughter, Zara, in Raleigh, N.C., where he is a longtime trainer and wholesale rep for Counter Culture Coffee.

Lem with his wonderful family: son Emerson, daughter Zara, and wife Sarah.

In June, Lem will travel to Dublin, Ireland, to represent the United States at the World Barista Championship. Another great prize Lem gets as the new USBC Champ? A trip to Brazil in July with USBC second-place finisher, Andrea Allen, and the top two from the U.S. Brewers Cup and the U.S. Roasters Championship, courtesy of Ally Coffee, the Origin Trip Sponsor of the U.S. Coffee Championships.

The top six in the United States Barista Championship! From left: Sam Lewontin of Everyman Espresso (4th place); Trevor Corlett of Madcap Coffee (5th place); Lem Butler of Counter Culture (da champ!); Andrea Allen of Onyx Coffee (2nd place); Devin Chapman of La Colombe (3rd place); and Sam Schroeder of Olympia Coffee (6th place).

Something else you should know about Lem: There are few if any people more beloved in the specialty industry than Lem. We are so proud of our new champion!