All of a sudden, the third and final Regional Barista & Brewers Cup Event for the United States is upon us. First came the Big Central October 25-27 in Minneapolis; then we had the Big Eastern in Durham, North Carolina, Jan. 21 “23, and now ”Big Western time in SoCal. Whirlwind for shizzle.
We are super stoked to announce that we’ve got two intrepid on-the-ground reporters at the Big Western this weekend in the form of the amazing Sam Penix of Everyman Espresso in New York, and the fab Rita Kaminsky of Linea Caffe in San Francisco. Sam and Rita will be sending me photos and news all weekend all, which I’ll relay to you readers on this here blog, as well as on Barista Mag’s Instagram, Twitter, and Facebook.
But we couldn’t stay away from the party entirely, even though we’re hard at work on what I think will be the biggest and most spectacular issue of Barista Magazine to date (April+May 2014, yo ”our 9th anniversary issue!). Publisher Ken Olson is flying down to Los Angeles to see all the action in person, and report back on it for all of you.
++Sidenote: I am so bummed to be missing this, but in order for this April+May issue to be as awesome as our spectacular readership deserves for it to be, I gots to stay put and work. But I’ll have you know I am totes there in spirit!++
Onward: we have compiled a special guide right here for those of you in Los Angeles to use to navigate this great and powerful event. It’s also handy for those of you following at home! As you fans around the world tune into the live feed coming atcha from Los Angeles (which you can access RIGHT HERE), keep this guide open to follow along with competitors, schedules, special events, and activities.
LET THE BIG WESTERN REGIONAL BEGIN!
¢ Location: LOT613, 613 Imperial Street, Los Angeles
¢ Generously sponsored by Curtis, Portola Coffee Lab, and many others, including Barista Magazine!
¢ Schedule (see below for schedule of each competitor)
| Friday, February 2110:30am – 5:00pm | NW Barista & SW Barista Competition: Day One |
| 11:00am – 1:30pm | South West Brewers Cup: Compulsory |
| 11:00am – 5:00pm | BGA Cafe open |
| 10:30am – 5:30pm (daily) | Outside Vendor Area: Reg Barber Nohmad Snack Company Analog Record Shop The Cellar Cheese Shop Seventh Tea Bar Verve Coffee Roasters Dave Van Patten Art LA Coffee Club |
| 5:00pm – 5:30 pm | Announce Finalists for South West Brewers Cup |
| 6:00pm – 9:00pm | Big Western Happy Hour sponsored by Verve Coffee Roasters Held at Angel City Brewery 216 South Alameda St., Los Angeles, CAJoin us for beers from Angel City Brewery and assorted pizzas, pastas, salads, and deserts from Pitfire Pizza. |
| Saturday, February 22 | |
| 8:15am – 11:00am | South West Brewers Cup: Open Service |
| 11:00am – 5:00pm | BGA Cafe open |
| 11:30am – 5:30pm | NW Barista & SW Barista Competition: Day Two |
| 2:30pm – 5:00pm | North West Brewers Cup: Compulsory |
| 5:30pm – 6:00pm | Announce Finalists for North West Brewers Cup |
| 8:00pm – 12:00am | Big Western Afterparty Held at Art Share LA Entertainment: Mr Mister Miyagi Band (5 piece karaoke band) Food: Taco cart, hotdog cart, popsicle cart Drink: Beers on tap from Noble Ale Works and cocktails prepared by Gabrielle Dion Other entertainment- Barista throw downs! |
| Sunday, February 23 | |
| 8:15am – 11:00am | North West Brewers Cup: Open Service |
| 11:00am – 2:30pm | BGA Cafe open |
| 11:30am – 1:30pm | NW Barista & SW Barista Competition: Day Three |
| 1:30pm – 2:00pm | Awards Ceremony |
| 2:00pm – 2:30pm | Competitors Review Score Sheets With Judges |
| 3:00pm | Event close |
¢ Schedule by Competitor (see competitor photos and cafe information below schedule)
Friday, Feb. 21
10:45 a.m.: Justin Williams
11:04 a.m.: Charlie Biando
11:23 a.m.: Maxwell Mooney
11:42 a.m.: David Tran
12:01 p.m.: Liam Neighbors (not listed on website: Crema, Portland)
12:20 p.m.: Peter Flores (not listed on website: Bar Nine, Los Angeles)
12:39 p.m.: Cole McBride
12:58: Nicolas Lawson
1:17 p.m.: Christos Andrews
1:38 p.m.: Jamil Radney (not listed on website: Dripp Coffee, Chino Hills)
1:55 p.m.: Brandon Paul Weaver
2:14 p.m.: Cris Mendoza
2:33 p.m.: Michael Cannon
2:52 p.m.: Frank La
3:11 p.m.: Stacy Wood-Burgess
3:30 p.m.: Andrew Ogden
3:49 p.m.: Sam Schroeder (not listed on website: Olympia Coffee Roasters, Olympia)
4:08 p.m.: Nicholas Rodriguez
4:27 p.m.: Bronwen Serna
4:46 p.m.: June Thornton (not listed on website: G&B, L.A.)
Saturday, Feb. 22
11:45 a.m.: Sam Brandvein
12:04 p.m.: Mark Nunziata
12:23 p.m.: Corey Autobee
12:42 p.m.: Christopher Casassa
1:01 p.m.: Marla Roach
1:20 p.m.: Kevin Bohlin
1:39 p.m.: Corey Critchfield
1:58 p.m.: Truman Severson
2:17 p.m.: Bethany Hargrove
2:36 p.m.: Elle Taylor
2:55 p.m.: Sarah Posma (not listed on website: Alaska Coffee Roasting, Fairbanks)
3:14 p.m.: Riley Paterson
3:33 p.m.: Laila Ghambari
3:52 p.m.: Leslie Ruckman
4:11 p.m.: Rachel Grozanick
4:30 p.m.: Sumner Ohye (not listed on website: The Curb, Kailua)
4:49 p.m.: Chad Bledsoe
5:08 p.m.: Andrew Villa
5:27 p.m.: Eden Marie Abramowicz (not listed on website: Intelligentsia, L.A.)
Sunday, Feb. 23
11:45 a.m.: Casey Soloria
12:04 p.m.: Ethan Poole
12:23 p.m.: Christine Johnson
12:42 p.m.: Brady MacDonald
1:01 p.m.: Sheli Maciel
1:20 p.m.: Charles Babinski (not listed on website: G&B, L.A.)
1:39 p.m.: Nick Purvis
1:58 p.m.: Jillian Woods (not listed on website: Farley’s Coffee, San Francisco)
SOUTHWEST REGIONAL BARISTA COMPETITION COMPETITORS
NORTHWEST REGIONAL BARISTA COMPETITORS
SOUTHWEST BREWERS CUP COMPETITORS
NORTHWEST BREWERS CUP COMPETITORS
