Two weeks, two coffee competitions—we travel coast to coast for the most recent coffee preliminary competitions in Montgomery, Ala., and Seattle.
BY ASHLEY RODRIGUEZ
BARISTA MAGAZINE ONLINE
Cover photo by Willard Meades Photography
Two more competitions down, two left—over the last two weeks, the United States Coffee Championships preliminaries jumped across the country. First, we saw competitors flock to Montgomery, Ala., to compete for guaranteed spots in the upcoming qualifying competitions. The two qualifying events—one in Denver in December and the other in Knoxville in January—will determine who goes on to compete for the title of the best barista and brewer in the U.S. at this year’s United States Coffee Championships, which will be held in early 2019.
After Montgomery, baristas and brewers were found making coffee in Seattle for another preliminary event. So far, we’ve seen eight preliminary events, with the top four brewers and six baristas in each event guaranteed a spot at the qualifying event of their choosing. We previously covered those first competitions in Chattanooga, Tenn.; Denver; Amarillo, Texas; Canton, Ohio; Honolulu, Hawaii; and Washington, D.C. After this weekend, there are two events left—one in Grand Rapids, Mich., and one in Rancho Cucamonga, Calif.
Here’s what happened, including rankings and results, at the competitions over the last two weeks.
MONTGOMERY, ALA.
All Montgomery photos by Willard Meades Photography
Prevail Coffee hosted the Deep South Preliminary Competition in the historic Kress Building in downtown Montgomery. Although most competitors traveled from southern states, the competition brought in baristas from all across the eastern seaboard.
BARISTA
1. T. Ben Fischer—Elixr Coffee Roasters, Philadelphia
2. Samuel Smith—Topeca Coffee Roasters, Tulsa, Okla.
3. Joseph Monett—Cafe Grumpy, Brooklyn, N.Y.
4. Whit Hagemann—East Pole Coffee Co., Atlanta
5. Jimmy Truong—Woodlawn Cycle Cafe, Birmingham, Ala.
6. Sarah Gill–Mama Mocha’s, Auburn, Ala.
BREWERS CUP
1. Elika Liftee—Onyx Coffee Lab, Springdale, Ark.
2. Avery Leith—Elixr Coffee, Philadelphia
3. Blake Neil—Seeds Coffee, Birmingham, Ala.
4. Chelsea Dubay—Purity Coffee, Greenville, S.C.
SEATTLE
All Seattle photos courtesy of Molly Flynn
We go back to Seattle for the next preliminary competition, hosted by La Marzocco USA. For the last two years, Seattle has hosted the U.S. Coffee Championships, and the city has lots of baristas and brewers ready to compete.
BARISTA
1. Kristi Persinger—Stumptown Coffee, Los Angeles
2. Elisabeth Johnson—Independent, Seattle
3. Damien Giles—Prince Coffee, Portland, Ore.4. Robert Uribe, Jr.—Cherry Street Public House, Seattle
5. Rebekah Sears—Portland Roasting Coffee, Portland, Ore.
6. Camille Bevans—Nossa Familia, Portland, Ore.
BREWERS
1. Chelsey Walker-Watson—Atlas Coffee Importers, Seattle
2. Elisabeth Johnson—Independent, Seattle
3. Zach Perkins—Roseline Coffee, Portland, Ore.
4. Kelly Hill—Temple Coffee Roasters, Sacramento, Calif.
Tune in later this month for updates from the last two hosts: Grand Rapids and Rancho Cucamonga!
