Lots more where this came from, so stick with Sprudge all weekend for our best-in-the-business coverage of the USBC, and follow @SprudgeLive on Twitter for play-by-play!

1.  Mike Morgenstern, Joe Coffee, NYC

9:18 “we spend 8 hours a day in our cafes – but our customers might spend only 5″ – surely he means 5 minutes, not hours. it’s early.

9:21 “cola underneath, crystal clear body…look for a real nice cherry sweetness” @drmancandy on his @JoecoffeeNYC Finca La Vega espressos – learn more here via Joe Coffee NYC.

9:25 “i think of cappuccinos as a comforting beverage…take both of your hands to bring it to your mouth” – Mr. Morgenstern’s capps come with notes of “peanut butter cereal”…and a side of Man Candy.

9:33 sig drink is called ‘the front porch’ – an americano with green coffee distillate and 6 minute roast spray.

2. Charles Babinski, G&B, Los Angeles

9:38 “espresso is any wondrous thing that comes out of that machine over there”

9:40 mr. babinski competes at #USBC using @49thParallel Colombia El Descanso – “blackberry acidity & sweetness, cane sugar, and honey”

9:43 notes on proof of respect at #USBC – the audience for @charlesbabinski is packed with upcoming competitors

9:46 “our idea of what espresso is changes to suit the beverage it’s in” – Charles is pulling 70 grams out for his signature drink! “espresso as a canvas”, pairing that long shot w/ orange blossom honey; then a 30 gram shot w/ pom juice & sparkling water

3. Wolfgang Schaefer, Alterra Coffee Roasters, Milwaukee

9:55 “I gotta do some stuff first. i gotta take care of some biz. we’re gonna get to the coffee stuff but I gotta move fast.”

9:56 “david bowie is gonna help me. he’s an old professor of mine…we did a lot of flight studies together.”

9:57 mr. schaefer competes using @AlterraCoffee‘s Kenya Mukurwe  – “meyer lemon, apples & peaches, spicy like cardamom

10:02 “be grateful for everything you have. shut up and eat the damn lemon.”

10:03 “doing this is such a treat i think. or it’s really scary and daunting. man, this is gonna come down to the wire.”

Wolfgang gets two pictures.

10:05 sig drink: peach lemon honey emulsification, espresso w/ calcium salt, spherification! “coffee meringue egg yolk”, or “lemon meringue space coffee”

10:07 “HAVE FUN SPACE COFFEE TIME!” – our faces hurt from smiling and laughing so much.

4. Jonathen Liu, Cognoscenti Coffee, Los Angeles

10:30 mr. liu’s shop @cogcoffee is one of our very favorite in Los Angeles – great multiroaster in the Culver City neighborhood

10:37 mr. liu competes at using @heartroasters Colombia El Desarrollo – learn more here!

10:38 this is a pretty quiet, self-controlled routine on the big stage from @JonathenLewd here at #USBC – great music, focused, professional.

10:40 mr. liu calls time at 14 flat

5. Brenna Kail, Intelligentsia Coffee, Chicago

10:59 ”today we’re going to start at the end – more importantly, the finish.”

11:01 ms. kail competes at using @Intelligenstia’s Colombia Tres Santos - click here for more info plz k thanks.

11:04 espresso: tart blueberry, fresh lemon zest, toffee zest – “lingering finish, low viscosity in the body”

11:13 ms. kail’s sig drink: caramel & tarragon sauce, Colombia Tres Santos espresso, blueberry & lemon zest simple syrup - two distinct sig drinks here from ms. kail – both set in gorgeous simple thin-stemmed glassware

6. Mickey Commerford III, Alterra Coffee Roasters, Milwaukee

11:20  Mr. Commerford mirrors his NCRBC routine, using @alterracoffee‘s Kenya Mukurwe – he’s playing Isaac Hayes vinyl live on stage for the #USBC judges

11:25 amaretto pastry notes in Mr. Commerford’s cappuccinos – shouts out Eileen’s Bakery near Buffalo as his inspiration

11:29 mr. commerford made his own amaretto paste for sig drink at #USBC – apricot kernals, confectioners sugar, whisked w/ espresso

11:32 mickey is a lot of fun to watch live – sort of guru-like, everything just so, and tons of perosnality

11:34 mr. commerford calls time at 15:37 – it’s been an @alterracoffee packed morning so far at #USBC in Boston – much milwaukee love.

7. Travis Beckett, Peregrine Espresso, Washington DC

11:42 mr. beckett competes w/ “the modern classic espresso” – 50% Nueva llusta and 50% Buf Cafe natural, by @counter_culture. Your Sprudge Editors visited Buf Cafe in Rwanda last summer with - read our trip report!

11:46 capuccino notes: ‘”black fig, unrefined honey, and graham cracker”

11:49 mr. beckett’s signature drink is a riff on the “classic american soda” – fizzy bubbles! who doesn’t love fizzy bubbles?

11:54 ”this isn’t going to be like a commercial soda pop, full of fake sugars”

8. Nick Purvis, The French Press, Santa Barbara, CA

11:58 ”one of my greatest passions is turning Flavor Seekers into Flavor Understanders” – Nick Purvis

12:04 mr. purvis competes using Verve Coffee Roasters Colombia Los Naranjos

12:06 Nick Purvis has got a citrus reamer on stage. he’s reaming. juice reaming.  ”it’s absolutely delicious you guys”

12:11 Purvis sig drink: caramelized tangerine juice, red apple juice, & liquified cheesecake (marscapone, cold extracted coffee, cacao)

9. Tamara Vigil, Irving Farm Coffee Roasters, NYC

12:22 ms. vigil competes using @irvingfarm‘s Orlando Osa, from Huila, Colombia – a 300 pound microlot

12:24 “some of my favorite coffees this year have been caturra, known for unique acidity and spice”

12:27 dominant cappuccino note: “chocolate pudding pop.” PUDDIN’!

12:31 there’s a cool kind of “educator” vibe in @tamakinsneb‘s stage presence – like a (rare) excellent grad student lecturer

12:35 ms. vigil calls time at 15:47

10. Logan Demmy, One Line Coffee, Columbus, OH

12:41  mr. Demmy competes at #usbc W/ @cafeimports ACES Program Colombia Juan Perez

12:41 mr. Demmy’s routine is cupping-focused – each of his drinks are a riff on the cupping process

12:47 mr. demmy is hustling through a timer malfunction, time check delays – maintaining composure

12:55 some pretty unfortunate timing standard issues for @pourcolumbus and @onelinecoffee – not sure what time he called. no warnings given.

11. Frank La, Cafe Dulce, Los Angeles

12:59 Frank competes w/ @madcapcoffee Didier Reinoso, one of their “Reinoso Brothers” series – learn more!

1:11 ”to me as a barista, this moment here is a launchpad – this is what I do.” – @flalessinhim calls time at 15:35

12. Anne Cooper, Dallis Bros. Coffee, NYC

1:16 Anne is the roaster at @dalliscoffee – her specialty coffee CV goes back 20 years and begins in Brisbane

1:17 this is a mirrored routine of Anne‘s routine at NERBC – same script, same Australian Mountain Top coffee

1:18 Mountain Top espresso: 36 hour fermenation, dried mechanically at low temps for 72 hours. Learn more about Australia’s Mountain Top Estate, from whence Anne’sBin 478 coffee originates:

1:20 hops, grape juice, mashed clementines, espresso, ice – an “espresso beer” with “hops a’hopping”

1:21 tiny beer mugs! Anne makes a 5th sig drink for herself to cheers alongside the judges

13. Ryan Redden, Portola Coffee Lab, Costa Mesa, CA

1:34 Mr. Redden competes with a @PortolaCoffee Ecuadoran coffee, sourced by @CafeImports

1:36 simplicity vs. complexity in this routine – multiple vessels, dry ice, and yet…a simple red gingham table cloth

1:42 sig drink = liquid nitrogen affogato – not exactly simple, but at least he didn’t bring the cryogenic tank on stage

1:45 mr. redden of @portolacoffee becomes the first competitor at #usbc to talk about roya – “it’s a difficult coffee to get into my hopper”

14. Robert Stofleth, Visions Espresso Service, Seattle

1:53 mr. stofleth’s routine focused around how choices and intentionality in the supply chain impact cup quality.

1:56 mr. stofleth’s coffee: Bolivia CENAPROC cooperative – 34 different producer components, caturra & typica, 1500-1800 meter ”clean fruit flavors – cherry & raisin – with a soft, balancing acidity”

1:59 mr. stofleth’s sig drink includes “cherry caramel” – cherries reduced until becoming caramel like, diluted to an espresso texture. Those “cherry caramels” are added to blanched almonds, almond powder, brown sugar, and orange blossom water

2:07 ”coffee quality is like a game of telephone. if one person drops then quality coffee is not possible.”

15. David Fasman, Kaldi’s Coffee, St. Louis, MO

2:13 “tasting espresso hot is like trying to look at a painting with sunglasses on.” – GREAT script man

2:15 mr. fasman competes using a 2-part @kaldis_coffee blend: part 1 is Rwanda Rulindo -   and the other half is Bolivia Bolinda

2:22 mr. fasman’s sig drink: muddle dried fig juice, black grape juice, cold brew @kaldis_coffee Bolivia Bolinda, espresso, nitrous charge

16. Evan Collier, Flat Black Coffee Company, Boston

2:36 mr. collier is the only Bostonian competing here at #USBC

2:37 mr. collier competes using @flatblackcoffee Yemen Sanani – learn more: http://www.sweetmarias.com/ysc.htm

2:38 ”there are things we can do to increase the potential of Yemen while still honoring its traditions”

2:42 ”Yemeni coffee is provincial, rustic, exotic, dynamic, never boring, and unforgettable”

17. Matthew Scott, Lemonjello’s Coffee, Holland, MI

2:54 “super sweet, orange peel citrus, and a butterscotch finish – syrupy round body” – Matthew on his espressos

3:02 ”creamy rich body, a honey sweetness, and a little bit of that butterscotch” – butterscotch realness from mr. scott & @lemonjellos

18. Camila Ramos, Panther Coffee, Miami

3:13 Camila routine is progressing from cup to origin – we won’t know the name of the coffee she’s using til the end.

3:15 hey it’s a mypressi twist – Camila using it with cascara tea to extract coffee for her sig drink

3:20 ms. ramos talking the judges through maillard reaction, mimicking roasting notes with jasmine, sugar, & citrus

3:23 ms. ramos competes using a coffee from Rwanda’s Buramera region, roasted by @panthercoffee

19. Trevor Corlett, MadCap Coffee Roasters, Washington, DC

3:28 mr. corlett competes using @madcapcoffee‘s Didier Reinoso – a harvest from december & a harvest from july

3:32 ”almond, sweet pastry, bittersweet chocolate, and a really round, really sweet finish”

3:35 moment of the day so far at #usbc – @tjorlet softly rapping along to his soundtrack, pulling Didier Reinoso @madcapcoffee shots.

3:38 the conceit here in @tjorlet‘s #usbc routine is that “past crop” coffees aren’t always what they seem. December & July harvests to prove it

3:39 sig drink for @tjorlet = layered shots. bottom layer, new harvest with grapefruit. top layer, older harvest w/ maple syrup & egg white

20. Cara Zebroski, Coffee Labs Roasters, Tarrytown, NY

3:51 Cara Zebroski competes using a coffee from the Roatan region in Honduras, the first-ever “Direct Trade” coffee for @coffeelabs

3:57 fudgy, bittersweet chocolate Honduran espressos from Cara Zeborski & @CoffeeLabs

4:03ms. zebroski’s sig drink is an homage to spanish and italian coffee traditions  ”delicate, floral, just plain glorious”

21. Talya Strader, Bow Truss Coffee Roasters, Chicago

4:07 ”specialty coffee has gotten big! we no longer have to plan our vacations around where to find good coffee.”

4:08 ms. strader’s routine mimics (at least conceptually) her BCRBC routine – 3 unique coffees from 3 separate roasters.

4:09 first coffee from Tayla is @DarkMatter2521‘s San Jose Red Bourbon – learn more here.

4:13 spotted: tech judge @DanStreetman tapping his foot in time to @talyastrader‘s use of the Jackson Five.

4:15 ms. strader’s 2nd coffee = Yirgacheffe from Chicago’s own @BowTruss – capps with strawberry shortcake & neopolitan ice cream

The post USBC 2013 Day One Recap: The Very Best In Tweets & Photos appeared first on Sprudge.com.

Allie VanHyfte, Greyhouse Coffee & Supply Co., West Lafayette, IN (NC) @greyhousecoffee

12:15 allie vanhyfte competes using La Armonia Hermosa guatemala antigua, roasted by cincinnati’s deeper roots

12:21 allie’s sig drink: “the undertow” – layered drink with blackberry / pumpkin puree, cold cream, and espresso

12:24 first competitor of the day allie vanhyfte of @greyhousecoffee calls time at 14:59 – great start to day one of the #bcrbc

Dayna James, Avoca Coffee, Fort Worth, TX (SC) @avocacoffee

12:28 dayna is a first time competitor, and this is her first trip to chicago – she competes with a peruvian – kenyan blend @avocacoffee

12:37 ms. james from @avocacoffee has traveled around 1000 miles to be here in chicago today. ft. worth 2 chicago = a long drive.

12:40 “there’s actual molasses from the peruvian, actual rose flavor from the kenyan ”

12:41 new zealand honey, hot water, maduro cigar, espresso – whisked together – “then a hint of rosewater”- dayna’s sig drink

Blair Bachman, Victory 44, MPLS (NC) @Victory_44

12:51 the menu for mr. bachman’s restaurant (@Victory_44) in MPLS looks really, really good – http://www.victory-44.com/vmenu.html #porkcheeks #burger

12:55 mr. bachman competes using @cafeimports colombia los naranjos – served as espresso with a little house made candied lemon peel

12:57 always love fine dining (or fine casual dining, or whatever) influenced routines like this one from blair bachman and @Victory_44

Zaida Dedolph, Frank, Austin (SC) @hotdogscoldbeer

1:03 zaida competes using @handsomeroaster‘s rwanda abakundakawa – learn more here & buy some, maybe, sure why not – http://www.handsomecoffee.com/products/abakundakawa

Shannon Steele, Passion House Coffee, Chicago (NC) @steeleknuckles, @phcoffeeroaster

1:28 “my nickname is knuckles, but don’t be scared” – up now is Shannon Steele (NC) of Passion House Coffee

1:31 learn more about @steeleknuckles and her shop, passion house coffee, over at their website – http://www.passionhousecoffee.com/

1:31 “orange zest that floats above a river of dark chocolate, caramel, and a light mint finish” – @steeleknuckles on her espresso

1:38 sig drink – honey, coriander, vanilla, sparkling water – “clarity” – peanuts simmered in coconut milk, chocolate

1:40 her sig is called the “lucid / lurid” – up there with @sexyfoam‘s “smooth criminal” for sig drink name of the year

Chris Glasow, Zingerman’s Coffee Co., Ann Arbor (NC) @zingermancoffee

1:47 up now is Chris Glasow of Zingerman’s Coffee Co., Ann Arbor (NC) @zingermancoffee – competing with rwanda gatare bourbon

1:51 uhm free jazz “life on mars” anyone?

Alex Johnson, Quixotic Coffee, St. Paul, MN (NC) @behindthebrew, @quixotic_coffee

2:05 omg her tamp is bedazzled. @behindthebrew that’s amazing

2:09 @behindthebrew competes using @cafeimports fazenda recreio brazil microlot – bourbon, yellow icatu – roast by @moonshinecoffee

2:15 raspberry juice, then half shot espresso, then marscapone cheese w/ with lavender, finish espresso, gelled lemon juice

2:18 @behindthebrew has her sig drinks down at 14, calls time at 14:35 – one of the best routines so far for sure at #bcrbc

Stacey Wieck, MadCap Coffee, Grand Rapids, MI (NC) @staceylynn1221, @madcapcoffee

2:28 “take your spoon, give it three quick stirs, then set it back down – enjoy this beverage in three sips”

2:33 working through siphon sig drink while making cappuccinos – adds blackberry sugar, draws down the flame

2:35 @staceylynn1221 shouts out chicago’s famous bar, the aviary (@aviarycocktails), as inspiration for her siphon sig drink

2:38 sig drink down 14:15, instructs the judges, says thank you, calls time at 15:04 – all smiles and poise

Josh Wismans, Alterra Coffee, Milwaukee (NC) @joshwismans, @alterracoffee

2:45 very confidant performance from mr. wismans, pride of milwaukie

2:49 actually, it’s pronounced “mill-e-wah-que” which is Algonquin for “the good land.”

Caitlin Corcoran, Parisi Brothers, Kansas City, MO (SC) @caitcork, @parisicoffee

3:03 her espresso is a guatemalan washed typica – “green apple notes, the mallic acidity i LOVE in coffee”

3:05 bitter course is espresso – walnut, cocoa, a pop of green apple acidity – next up are the capps

3:07 sweet course – capps taste “like a warm walnut brownie – a creamy, velvety cappuccino” – mmm walnut brownie

3:13 sig drink – apples macerated in a sterilized mason jar 5 days, then pureed, strained, w/ honey crisp apple vinegar

Joshua Longsdorf, Anthology Coffee, Detroit (NC) @joshualongsdorf, @anthologycoffee

3:20 it’s nice of @joshualongsdorf and @anthologycoffee to keep their twitter handles simple.

3:27 mr. longsdorf competes for @anthologycoffee – a microroaster in detroit. learn more here: http://www.anthologycoffee.com/

3:37 @joshualongsdorf a great ambassador for @anthologycoffee and coffee in detroit

Lorenzo Perkins, Cuvee Coffee Roasters, Austin (SC) @lorenzoperkins, @cuveecoffee

3:40 “espresso is really fascinating. i find it amazing that such a small beverage is capable of being so many things…”

3:41 “espresso is espresso. it must be viewed as a whole substance if it is to be understood at all…so let’s begin.”

3:44 espresso is natural, pulped natural, and washed – he’s building 3 unique sig drinks for each -srlsy y’all @lorenzoperkins is serious

3:46 espresso is an emulsion. espresso is a compound. espresso is a suspension. @lorenzoperkins routine doesn’t compress well in 2 140 words

Talya Strader, Intelligentsia Coffee, Chicago (NC) @talyastrader, @intelligentsia

4:02 “dark fruit notes are my heart when it comes to coffee. it’s what i truly love.”

4:12 ms. strader’s sig drink takes fig, apple, marscapone, ethiopian espresso, swagger.

4:17 polished and professional 15 minutes from @talyastrader, manager of @intellibroadway – effortless and composed, a pleasure to watch

Matthew Scott, Lemonjello’s Coffee, Holland, MI (NC) @lemonjello

4:29 earn more about matthew scott’s shop here: http://lemonjellos.com/ – hawthorne heights are playing there april 6th.

4:33 matthew scott competes using @equalexchange‘s tupac amaru peruvian coffee – “picture me brewin’…”

Anya Pomykala, Zingerman’s Coffee, Ann Arbor (NC) @zingermancoffee

4:44 anya is the retail manager of zingerman’s coffee in ann arbor – 8-9 different methods on bar each day!

4:48 we are shaving cheese here, people

Nora Brady, Kaldi’s Coffee Roasting Co., St. Louis, MO SC @kaldis_coffee

4:59 learn more about @kaldis_coffee here: http://kaldiscoffee.com/

5:15 solid routine to close out the day from nora brady of @kaldis_coffee in st. louis – another high quality first time competitor at #bcrbc

The post BCRBC: Day One Recap From Chicago appeared first on Sprudge.com.

Jon Stovall, Cognoscenti Coffee – Atwater Village, LA

11:12am – and we’re off – “i feel like all the sense are touched in making coffee…but what does coffee sound like?” john stovall @cogcoffee

11:14am – mr. stoval competes with fisticuffs espresso blend from @handsomeroaster…colombia and honduran coffees

11:24am – mr. stoval’s signature beverage includes espresso, ice, chocolate ganache in a shaker, agave syrup, orange juice made from melted orange popsicles (dang!)

Alan Gomez, Portola – Coffee Lab, Costa Mesa, CA

11:38am cinnamon spice up-front, citrus peel, transitioning into hibiscus – espressos from alan gomez of @portolacoffee

11:42am mr. gomez sig drink: one to one ratio of espresso and water, served iced, with frozen extracts of hibiscus, citrus, cinnamon -visually dazzling

Olja Goolsby, Cibo, Sausalito, CA

11:55am learn more about cibo of sausalito here

Lizzy Sampson, Verve Coffee Roasters, Santa Cruz

12:12 “The more traceable the coffee, the better.” – lizzy’s espresso has three coffees with distinct levels of traceability

12:14 evergreen, persimmon sweetness, notes of kumquat in lizzy’s espressos

12:18 injerto, ethiopa worka, sumatra lake tawar coffees from @vervecoffee in lizzy sampson’s comp blend

12:25 lizzy sampson calls time at 14:45 – textbook finals-bound barista routine from ms. sampson and @vervecoffee at the #swrbc

Jonathan Stauf, Top Dog Coffee Roasters, Morro Bay, CA

12:33 jonathan stauf of @topdogcoffeebar up now – competes using a single origin costa rican coffee roasted by top dog

Nick Purvis, The French Press, Santa Barbara

12:48 “we believe that this beautiful fruit has all the potential in the world to be delicious and worthwhile” nick purvis, @lefrenchpress

12:59 sig drink focuses on apricot acidity, burnt caramel, heady body – @lefrenchpress’s nick purvis is way smooth on stage

1:03 mr. purvis calls time at 14:58 – two ace routines from @vervecoffee thus far – in a year of first-time competitors, nick looked pro

Eli Kalen, OZO Coffee, Boulder, CO

1:05 up next in the #swrbc is competitor 7, eli kalen of @OZOcoffee in beautiful boulder, colorado – a roaster with a proud competition history

1:10 it’s rare for coffee drinkers outside of colorado to get a chance to try @ozocoffee – learn more about them here http://ozocoffee.com/

Macallie Atkinson, Prescott Donut Factory, Prescott, AZ

1:22 macallie is the day’s first competitor from arizona, and this year’s first representative of the donut arts.

Annie McGee, Ritual Coffee Roasters, SFO

1:42 @anniemcgee competes with fully washed caturra coffeee, dried on raised patios – @ritualcoffee colombia huila el renacer

1:55 molecular gastronomy influenced sig drink from @anniemcgee – most complex sig drink of the day (#swrbc has more emphasized simplicity)

2:01 wow, blown away by @anniemcgee of @ritualcoffee – chemistry on stage – but will she lose points for unedited jay-z tracks?

Justin Carleton, Handsome Coffee Roasters, LA

2:19 mr. carleton competes using @handsomeroaster’s colombia huila san sebastian at the #swrbc

2:21 a professional routine – simplicity vibe running through all the @handsomeroaster performances this year

Scott Yost, Local 123, Berkeley

2:39 scott yost of @local123 calls time at 14:45 – a subdued & smart performance for sure, using three different origins from @fourbarrel

Ryan Plaza, Honolulu Coffee Co., Honolulu

2:41 up now is ryan plaza of @honolulucoffee, former home to last year’s USBC champ @petelicata

John Lee, Bourbon Street Cafe, LA @

3:01 john lee talks about @bourbonstcfe’s location in los angeles’ koreatown neighborhood – really fascinating competition intro

3:02 “so many of my customers are from a culture unfamiliar with acidity and sweetness in coffee – i get to educate them”

3:11 fermented brown rice signature beverage – among the most unique we’ve tasted all year

3:13 there’s something so engaging about a personal routine – mr. lee brings the story of his family to his #swrbc set. genuine.

Kayla Blowers, Temple Coffee, Sacramento

3:59 up now is kayla blower (@blahKaylablah) of sacramento’s @templecoffee – her espresso tastes like “a hawaiian burger”

4:03 “this is how i wish all coffees could taste” – @blahkaylablah on her signature drinks

Jared Truby, Verve Coffee Roasters, Santa Cruz

4:11 packed room here at #swrbc for Jared’s performance – hometown advantage, hometown pressure…

4:17 “don’t write down your tasting notes for now. just enjoy the clarity.”

4:21 sig drink includes cascara tea and molasses – hands to judges: “For you sir. For you, miss. For you, sir. And for you sir.”

4:26 you evidently can go surfing with mr. truby tomorrow. rumor has it @doug_zell will be joining him. 7am on the beach. not making this up.

Alfonso Portela, Chocolate Fish Coffee, Santa Cruz

4:27 now up – alfonso “the fonz” portela, representing santa cruz cafe chocolate fish coffee

4:28 “today i’m going to keep it simple, and share this coffee with you like i’d share it with my customers” – fonzy

Percy Ramirez, Intelligentsia Coffee, Pasadena, CA

4:47 “I wanted to bring you coffee as fresh as possible – this coffee was growing on a tree just a few weeks ago” – P-Ram (Percy Ramirez)

4:56 P-Ram competes using el salvador finca matalapa roblar from @intellisourcing – “acids and sugars.”

4:59 percy ramirez cruises through a little early adversity (dropped a glass), finishing with time to clean and thank the judges – all drinks down at 13:30

Jason Lenington, The Abbey, Santa Cruz

5:01 second-to-last routine of #swrbc day one belongs to jason lenington of The Abbey (@theabbeysc)

5:07 the sprudge.com AV department wants you to know, mr. lenington is a certified crossfit personal trainer, and quite the hunk

Jen Macias, Cartel Coffee Lab, Phoenix, AZ

5:35 our last competitor of the day – @Jen_Macias of @CartelCoffeeLab – her espresso features guatemala el diamante & costa rica san luis

5:45 calls time well before 15 – that’s it! thus ends our #swrbc live tweeting day one – we’ll be back to clog your feed tomorrow!

The post SWRBC Day One: Them Baristas Be Tamping appeared first on Sprudge.com.

We’ll be hanging out with folks all weekend at the glorious Greater Tacoma Convention Center in fabulous Western Washington.

The post NWRBC: Interviews, Flavor Notes, Gianni appeared first on Sprudge.com.

[Ed. note: we were just a few steps behind due to the vagaries of I-5 travel (and one Sprudge editor's increasingly neurotic highway speed phobia), and so our tweets start with the third competitor of the day, Panda Fernandez of Espresso Parts.]

1:04pm – just up now – @pandaman73 of @espressoparts_ #nwrbc

1:05pm – “one thing i love about this industry is collaborations – no one got here on their own.” – @pandaman73 #nwrbc

1:09pm – Gianni Cassatini of @nuovasimonelli is in the house. “how are you doing gianni?” – - “me? i am always good.” #nwrbc

1:12pm – @pandaman73 using tacoma natives @bluebeardcoffee for his competition coffee #nwrbc

1:25pm – up now, orme kellett of lava java in ridgefield, washington – “orme” rhymes with “warm”

1:29pm – meanwhile, nate jones rocks a single heat-stable glove during his #brewerscup routine. explanation surely to follow.

1:38pm – @akaashsaini up now at #brewerscup using clever dripper – while the untweetable orme kellet continues his #nwrbc performance

1:42pm – @matt_banbury is in the house. this weekend we will attempt to prove to him that tacoma does not completely suck.

1:49pm – @sterling_collin Collin Schneider is up now at #nwrbc – “so let’s give him a round of applause as he gets rolling”, etc

1:55pm – this is a pretty low-energy room right now. end of day one, only 6 #nwrbc competitors today…predict tomorrow will be much more raucous

1:56pm – @devchap setting up now for #brewerscup – a fleet of kone-clad chemex

2:08pm – jonathan walz of @pdcoffee on now – he’s last up for the day, and this is his first time at competition #nwrbc

2:10pm – #nwrbc newsflash – @tyler_stevens and @sterling_collin went to high school together.

The post NWRBC Day One: Tweets, Photos, Animated GIFs appeared first on Sprudge.com.