The Final Countdown

Man, I sure wish we could add audio to this thing. I urge you to sing along to the classic Europe song as you read…

I’m sooo stoked about the SCAA and USBC next week! A week from today, Ken and I will leave Portland and head for Minneapolis where we will spend six days with you guys, our friends and readers. I just talked to Michelle Campbell of the SCAA this morning, and she says we are now packed with USBC competitors: there are 59 of you set to take the stage and compete for the title of 2008 United States Barista Champion! There haven’t been this many competitors registered since the USBC in Atlanta in 2004! That was the year that Ms. Bronwen Serna won… here’s a picture Mr. Godshot snapped before she knew she was the winner…

OK, back from memory lane now. There are so many amazing baristas set to compete at next week’s United States Barista Championship. Want to know who they are? You got it.

Charles Babinski, Intelliegentsia, Chicago

Chris Baca (WESTERN REGIONAL CHAMP), Ritual, San Francisco

Jordan Barber, Wandering Goat, Eugene

Belle Battista (MIDATLANTIC REGIONAL CHAMP), Aldo Coffee Co, Pittsburgh

Chris J. Berola, Latteland, Kansas City

Lem Butler (SOUTHEAST REGIONAL CHAMP), Counter Culture, Durham

Jason Calhoon (SOUTHWEST REGIONAL CHAMP), No company, Tucson

John Casamassa, Aldo Coffee Co., Pittsburgh

Drew Cattlin, Ritual, San Francisco

Caitlin Corcoran, LatteLand, Kansas City

Trevor Corlett, Moon Monkey, Bourbonnais (that’s in Illinois)

Chris Deferio, Carriage House Cafe, Ithaca

Peter Droste, Hotel Delmano, Brooklyn

Katie Duris, murky, Arlington

Nolan Dutton, Conscious Coffee, Boulder

Lindsey Elliott, Zoka, Seattle

Chris Ganger, Ithaca Coffee Co., Ithaca

Kyle Glanville, Intelligentsia, L.A.

Danielle Glasky, Octane, Atlanta

Nick Griffith, Intelligentsia, L.A.

Ben Helfen, Octane, Atlanta

Ariel Johnson, Coffee Hound, Bloomington

Orme Kellett, Lava Java, Ridgefield (Washington)

Ryan Knapp, Moon Monkey, Bourbonnais (Illinois)

Natasha Lebedev, Zoka, Seattle

Greg Lefcourt, Ozo Coffee, Boulder

Pete Licata (MIDWEST REGIONAL CHAMP), PT’s, Overland Park

Lita Lopez, Groundwork, L.A.

Scott Lucey, Alterra, Milwaukee

Mike Marquard, Kaldi’s, St Louis

Ashlind McAshan, No affiliation, Gainesville

Alex McCracken, Kaldi’s, St. Louis

Peter Middlecamp, Black Sheep, South Saint Paul

Andrew Milstead, Kopplin’s, St. Paul

Clint Newlan, the Roasterie, Kansas City

Lance Nichols, Gimme!, Ithaca

Adam Palmer, Paradise, Ramsey (Minnesota)

Devin Pedde, Intelligentsia, L.A.

Samantha Penix, Gorilla, Brooklyn

Heather Perry, Coffee Klatch, San Dimas

Mike Phillips (GREAT LAKES REGIONAL CHAMP), Intelligentsia, Chicago

Patrick Adam Pierce (SOUTH CENTRAL REGIONAL CHAMP), Caffe Medici, Austin

Clancy Rose, Cuvee Coffee, Spring (Texas)

J. David Sapp, Chaos Roasters, Charleston

Amber Sather (NORTHEAST REGIONAL CHAMP), Intelligentsia, Brooklyn

Sonja Schutte, Aldo Coffee Co., Pittsburgh

Dave Schwalbach, Alterra, Milwaukeee

Robin Seitz, PT’s, Topeka

Bronwen Serna, Hines, Seattle

Jeremy Sterner, No affiliation, Annapolis

Tayla Strader, Intelligentsia, Chicago

Alexandra Switzer, Intelligentsia, Chicago

Justin Tiesl, Alterra, Milwaukee

Phuong Tran, Lava Java, Ridgefield (Washington)

Brett Walker, Zoka, Seattle

Ryan Willbur, Intelligentsia, L.A.

Billy Wilson (NORTHWEST REGIONAL CHAMP), The Albina Press, Portland

I know I’m missing a couple, but this is the list as of Monday. Be sure to pick up a copy of the official United States Barista Championship event program, published by Barista Mag, at the USBC stage in Minneapolis for deets on all the regional winners, background on the competition, sponsor recognition, competitors, schedule, and more!