Over the course of 6 weeks in the beginning of 2012, Sprudge.com had the opportunity to attend all 6 of the regional competitions in this year’s United States Barista Competition cycle. The result is a body of work that we hope does justice to the professionalism and dedication of the competitors, more than 200 in total. This work would not have been possible without the independent sponsorship of several companies, including Wilbur Curtis Co., Dallis Bros. Coffee, Verve Coffee Roasters, Counter Culture Coffee, Intelligentsia, and Alterra Coffee. In addition, our coverage was facilitated by virtue of the unfettered access and support supplied by the staff of the SCAA. It was a joy and a privilege to attend and cover these events as your Unofficial Media Sponsors.

This post is a clearinghouse for coverage from all 6 regions, spaced out across 5 separate weekend events in Tacoma, New York City, Atlanta, Santa Cruz, and Chicago. We’re proud to offer you this archive for the 2012 USBC regional cycle, because we sincerely believe that this is the kind of coverage these events deserve.

2012 Northwest Regional Barista Competition, January 27th-29th in Tacoma, Washington

Northwest Regional Barista (and Brewers Cup) Champion: Devin Chapman, Coava Coffee Roasters, PDX

Competition season kicked off on a high note in dreary, gloomy, beautiful Tacoma, Washington. This city has a special place in our hearts; both your Sprudge.com editors grew up here, so we love it and hate it with equal fervor. It was absolutely the right place to kick off this year’s competition cycle. Here’s a full list of all 20 competitors, and another list of the 16 Brewers Cup entrants.

We put together full recaps of all three days, and here they are: Day 1 (note the Boni & Willbur pic in the slideshow), Day 2 (check the Jen Prince video), and Finals Sunday (Neil Oney’s crotch). Here’s a complete schedule for all 6 Brewers Cup and Barista Competition finalists, along with a video shot Sunday morning detailing the agony and ecstasy of Finals prep.

In the end, Coava’s Devin Chapman won both the Brewers Cup and the Barista Competition, with second place going to Laila Ghambari (Stumptown) and third to Tyler Stevens (Barista). Read the full results from Finals Sunday, then click here for an exit interview with Mr. Chapman. Last but not least, treat your brain cells to this curated selection of Tacoma rap music from Sprudge.com’s Rap Anthem Curator (and Tacoma native), Michael Gardiner.

Click here to view the video on YouTube.

2012 Southeast Regional Barista Competition, February 10th-11th in Atlanta, Georgia

2012 Southeast Regional Barista Champion: Lindsey Kiser, Peregrine Espresso, Washington DC

2012 Southeast Regional Brewers Cup Champion: Matt Ludwikowski, Octane Coffee, Atlanta, GA

Sprudge.com coverage sponsored by Wilbur Curtis Co., access provided by the SCAA.

A week and a half later, and we’re flying cross-country to Atlanta, with a 9 (!) hour drunken layover in Denver. The less you know about Atlanta, the less you know how cool it is. This was our first sponsored travel event, and in some ways, it set a template for the work to come. We can’t thank the Wilbur Curtis Co. team enough for stepping up to make our coverage possible, and a shout-out is definitely due to the folks at Counter Culture Coffee and Batdorf and Bronson, for putting on an awesome event and taking us under their wings for the weekend.

Here’s a list of all 28 competitors at the SERBC, along with all 13 entrants in the SE Brewers Cup. This competition packed a serious amount of action into like 36 hours, with competition taking place over just two days. Check out our Day 1 Part 1 recap (the Lem Butler video towards the bottom is a Sprudge staff favorite), then peruse the scene from Day 1 Part 2 (tech judge double squat .gif). This link takes you to a full list of all 6 Barista Competition and Brewers Cup finalists, and you can peruse our Youtube channel for video of the SERBC Finalists, a lovely Q&A with several competitors, plus a sit-and-chat with Sprudge favorite Camilla Ramos (of Miami’s Panther Coffee) and this in-depth down and nerdy convo with Ryan Jenson, owner of DC’s Peregrine Espresso.

Speaking of Peregrine, the barista du jour at SERBC was Lindsey Kiser, who placed first in a tough field of barista competitors. You can check out an exit interview with Ms. Kiser by clicking this link, which includes the very instant she was announced the SERBC winner. Meanwhile, Atlanta’s own Matt Ludwikoski (of Octane Coffee) won the Brewers Cup. We recapped the Finals Saturday hullabaloo here as best we could, before retiring to Jordan’s brother’s house for much-needed wine, BBQ, and play-time with Jordan’s baby niece.

There was another 3 1/2 hour layover in the Denver airport on our way back home.

Click here to view the video on YouTube.

2012 Northeast Regional Barista Competition, February 25th-26th in New York City, New York.

2012 Northeast Regional Barista Champion: Katie Carguilo, Counter Culture Coffee, NYC

2012 Northeast Regional Brewers Cup Champion: Jordan Barber, Third Rail Coffee, NYC

Sprudge.com event coverage sponsored by Dallis Bros. Coffee, access provided by the SCAA.

Off to New York City for the NERBC, where Dallis Bros. Coffee played host to 28 barista competitors and no fewer than 18 Brewers Cup entrants. This one was another 2-day blitzkrieg, housed on the 11th floor of a Midtown skyscraper and presented in conjunction with the 7th Annual Coffee and Tea Festival NYC. We liveblogged this one, doing our best to both tweet and update the site throughout the day. Here’s our Day 1 Part 1 coverage, followed closely by our Day 1 Part 2 coverage (note the Justin Schulz head-noddage).

This link takes you to a list of all 6 Brewers Cup and Barista Competition finalists, which you can pair with video of all 6 barista finalists, as well as not one, but two interviews with NERBC champ Katie Carguilo – interview one (not into scales), and interview 2 (def into thanking people, guinea pigs). Katie sure did win that weekend, followed in 2nd by Jordan Barber (then of Third Rail, now of Intelligentsia), then Park Brannen, of Handsome Coffee Roasters. Mr. Barber also placed 1st at the NE Brewers Cup, using a Kenya Kieni coffee roasted by Denmark’s Coffee Collective. We wrote a little essay about each of the Barista Competition finalists, which you can peruse right here.

We really put out a lot of video content that weekend! Check out this fun interview with Sam Penix, owner of Everyman Espresso, then enjoy a little coffee talk with Brewers Cup finalist Tamara Vigil, of Irving Farm Coffee Company. Meanwhile, Handsome Coffee Roaster’s Park Brannen and Mike Phillips snuggle up before our unflinching lens, while John Moore breaks down the Chemex station offered by event hosts Dallis Bros. Coffee.  Our only big mistake was making a “Daria” joke (see #1) out of Pavement Coffee competitor Daria Whalen‘s name, because it’s pronounced “Dare-ee-uh”, and we were wrong to kid.

Click here to view the video on YouTube.

2012 Southwest Regional Barista Competition, March 9th-11th in Santa Cruz, California

2012 Southwest Regional Barista Champion: Jared Truby, Verve Coffee Roasters, Santa Cruz, CA

2012 Southwest Regional Brewers Cup Champion: John Martin, Intelligentsia Coffee, Pasadena, CA

Sprudge coverage sponsored by Verve Coffee Roasters, access provided by the SCAA.

Egads, there were 40 barista competitors at the SWRBC! Here’s the full lists – Day One as well as Day Two. In addition to that, some 20 people competed in the Brewers Cup, making the SWRBC by far the largest regional event in this year’s competition cycle. There’s curated tweets, pics, and .gifs in our daily recaps: check here for Day 1 (lots of photography) and click here for Day 2 (the Charles Babinski .gif is a another staff favorite).

Here’s a list of the 2012 SWRBC finalists, along with video interviews of all 6: Kevin “Tex” Bohlin (Ritual Coffee Roasters), Charles Babinski (Intelligentsia), Lizzy Sampson (Verve Coffee Roasters), Alfonso Portela (Chocolate Fish Coffee Roasters), Percy Ramirez (Intelligentsia), and Jared Truby (Verve Coffee Roasters). The SWRBC was such a wonderful way for Verve Coffee Roasters to open their community up to outside visitors, and so it felt kind of inevitable and natural for them to take home the win, like something out of a Hollywood sports script. Hometown hero Jared Truby won in the Barsita Competiton, while Intelligentsia’s John Martin capture the SW Brewers Cup. Check out this exit interview with Mr. Truby, read a series of essays we wrote for each finalist, then learn more about all the SW Brewers Cup finalists, including coffees and methods used by all six.

Click here to view the video on YouTube.

2012 Big Central Regional Barista Competition, March 3rd-5th in Chicago, Illinois

2012 North Central Barista Champion: Ryan Knapp, MadCap Coffee Roasters

2012 North Central Brewers Cup Champion: Jon Ferguson, Independent, Lincoln, Nebraska

2012 South Central Barista Champion: Lorenzo Perkins, Cuvee Coffee Roasters, Spicewood, TX

2012 South Central Brewers Cup Champion: Mike Marquard, Half & Half, St. Louis, MI

Sprudge coverage sponsored by Counter Culture Coffee, Intelligentsia, and Alterra, access provided by the SCAA.

Two regionals, one weekend. This one felt like the toughest Koopa you have to fight before it’s time to battle Bowser. There were 20 competitors from the North Central and another 13 from the South Central, both yielding 6 distinct sets of finalists. Prelims were broken into two days – Day 1 and Day 2 – matched with a full slate of 28 Brewers Cup entrants. 

We somehow managed to cover it all, barely, and here’s proof: Day One recap in tweets and pics and Day Two with lots of photography. Here’s a listing of all 12 finalists for both regions, along with the 11 Brewers Cup finalists. There’s tons of video from that weekend, so check out these interviews with finalists Courtney Marie Vaquera (MadCap), Stacey Wieck (MadCap), Jacque DesMarais (Kaldi’s Coffee), Caitlin Corcoran (Parisi Brothers), and Charlie Habegger (Intelligentsia).

Finals Sunday was madness, a scene we attempted to capture in words and photos here. MadCap Coffee Company’s roaster and co-owner Ryan Knapp won the North Central for the second year in a row, while Cuvee Coffee’s Lorenzo Perkins took home first in the South Central; we’ve got these video exit interviews with Mr. Perkins and Mr. Knapp. On the Brewers Cup front, Mike Marquard won for the South Central, while independent competitor Jon Ferguson was crowned victor for the North Central.

That’s it. That’s all of it. Use this as an archive, and rest assured this information will always be here. Congratulations to all the competitors, and thank you to all of our sponsors.

The post A Complete Look Back At The 2012 USBC Regionals appeared first on Sprudge.com.

Percy Ramirez

There seems to be no limit to the kindness and genuine enjoyment of the barista craft exuded by Percy Ramirez, of Intelligentsia’s Pasadena cafe. This was Percy’s first performance in the USBC regional cycle; Mr. Ramirez has competed twice before (and enjoys dual eligibility) in Guatemala, where he lived until he was four. Percy competed using an Intelligentsia sourced-and-roasted offering from Finca Matalapa, El Salvador – it is not currently commercially available. We’ll add that meeting and having a chance to share some conversation with Mr. Ramirez was a personal highlight for both your Sprudge editors last weekend. In an industry full of all manner of characters, Percy Ramirez is truly one of the nice guys.

Charles Babinski

One of our sport’s (or whatever you want to call it) most electric performers, Charles Babinski of Intelligentsia Silverlake turned in two absolutely captivating performances over the SWRBC weekend. He’s dancing as he pulls shots; he’s mugging for the cameras;  he’s the perfectly devilish flirty barkeep. The audience is educated by Mr. Babinski seemingly by osmosis, as if knowledge could be transferred by charisma alone. Charles’ routine broke down walls between judges and the competitor, by acknowledging the often very different expectations a barista encounters from his or her customers in a cafe setting. He encouraged sharing, dialogue, and playfulness among the judges, while advocating passionately for the very special coffee he was privileged to serve – Intelligentsia’s Bolivia Takesi microlot, which is as of yet not commercially available. Mr. Babinski is a very special competitor, a barista’s barista, and his is one of our very favorite routines of this year’s competition cycle.

Lizzy Sampson

One of two competitors from Verve to reach the finals, Lizzy Sampson’s routine stood out for a couple of reasons: she was the only SWRBC finalist to compete with a blend, using Verve coffees sourced from Ethiopia, Sumatra and Guatemala; and her routine was the only one to speciically focus on traceability at origin. Watching her twice, we were blown away by some of the bigger questions she asked of the judges. It takes guts to openly admit – indeed, to spend time on such admissions from the ever-ticking 15 minute clock – that certain components in your competition coffee are less traceable than others. But the truth is, that’s often the truth, and we applaud Lizzy for acknowledging the complicated realities of many coffees from Ethiopia and Sumatra. For 15 minutes, Lizzy was able to compellingly argue that, while traceability in coffee sourcing is enormously important, so too is taste. Playing to a packed home crowd for both of her SWRBC performances, Lizzy Sampson and Verve were able to pull off an important, engaging pair of routines: the kind that makes you think.

Alfonso Portela

Hailing out of the burgeoning Central Valley specialty coffee scene in Sacramento, California, Alfonso Portela made heads turn on Selection Saturday at the SWRBC, earning a spot in the top six for himself and Chocolate Fish Coffee Roasters. A first time competitor, Mr. Portela’s routine was a premiere example of friendly, warm customer service in the superchared barista competition environment. One of the joys for us covering the USBC cycle is to learn more about shops in emerging cities, of which the Sacramento-Modesto area is certainly one. Just as the routine from Camilla Ramos at the SERBC made us want to visit Panther Coffee in Miami, so too did Mr. Portela pique our interest w/r/t Chocolate Fish. Once an Ecco account, CF is now a small roastery in Downtown Sacramento with a pronounced New Zealand vibe. Mr. Portela competed using a coffee from Honduras that is not currently available via Chocolate Fish, but you can learn more about their other offerings here. 

As a last note on Fonzy’s performance, we present a hypothetical: pretend you’re taking a friend out for coffee, and that this friend is a civilian, entirely unconnected from the specialty coffee industry and with very little experience visiting nice cafes. If we could draft pick a barista to spend time with that friend from behind the bar, we’d have to consider Alfonso Portela. We hope this is the first of many competition successes for him and the crew at Chocolate Fish.

Kevin “Tex” Bohlin

Sometimes barista routines have a very disparate set of influences. In the case of Ritual Coffee’s “Tex” Bohlin, his 15 minutes on stage were a delightful melange, equal parts Guatemalan adventure and Hollywood picture, poured through a San Francisco filter. All coffees tell a story, but for Mr. Bohlin, the coffee WAS the story; watch the above interview to learn more about Tex’s work in Guatemala at Finca La Merced. (For the full experience, pull this song from the “Drive” soundtrack up in another tab.) You were a pleasure to watch, Tex.

Jared Truby

It sort of felt like destiny, for Jared Truby to win this year’s SWRBC. A seasoned competitor who has lived and worked for years as part of Verve Coffee Roasters, Mr. Truby’s routines were standing-room only affairs on the competition floor in Santa Cruz. He used a remarkable coffee, Verve’s Costa Rica Finale de Cosecha – we had a chance to write it up already here – and finished his routine with one of the more notably complex signature drinks we’ve seen all year, a multi-step experience involving cascara and molasses tea, vanilla cream espresso foam, and a re-imagined spherical coffee “cherry” made from apple and cherry juices. Mr. Truby never loses focus on stage, never breaks a sweat; he is a natural competitor, and he makes that which is most decidedly not easy look it. The first-round bye and the confidence he’ll be bringing with him to Portland makes him a must-watch Championship contender at this year’s USBC.

For more photos, please visit our Facebook album.

The post 2012 SWRBC Finals In Words and Video appeared first on Sprudge.com.

Mr. Truby competed with Verve’s Costa Rica Finale de Cosecha – a coffee from the Helsar micromill, in the West Valley of Costa Rica. This micromill is one of many championed by Francisco Mena and his Exclusive Coffees “micromill revolution” program. Verve’s green buyer, Colby Barr, worked with Mr. Mena to cultivate a unique lot of beans from that mill. The cherries that became Finale de Cosecha were left on their trees for an extended maturation process. Then the ripest red cherries were set aside during the harvest process for Verve – the name, Finale de Cosecha, mean “final harvest”. This project resulted in less than 20 bags of coffee, and a win for Jared Truby at the 2012 SWRBC. This coffee is not currently commercial available, but will be offered by Verve in the coming weeks. Stay tuned to Sprudge.com for updates.

Congratulations to Mr. Truby, Mr. Barr, and everyone from Verve Coffee Roasters for both winning and hosting an extraordinary event here in Santa Cruz.

The post My Aim Is Truby: Verve’s Hometown Hero Wins SWRBC appeared first on Sprudge.com.

Jeff Garcia, N:1 Coffee, Oakland

11:15 cardamom spiked whipped cream with espresso for his sig drink – cowboy tunes in the backround, bolo tie on the man himself

11:19 mr. garcia is effortlessly self-assured on stage – in constant verbal contact with the judges, exact in his instruction

Chris Gaoiran, Alexander’s Steakhouse, Cupertino, CA

11:40 @_cappsized refers to his sig drink as the “dessert course” – #appropriate

11:45 juiced citrus in martini glass w/ maraschino cherry, blowtorched an orange slice (burst of flames), 2 judges dead

Paul Joo, Bourbon Street Cafe, LA

11:50 Mr. Joo competes using ethiopian and sumatran coffee – we srsly enjoyed the routine from Paul’s partner at @bourbonstcfe yesterday

11:53 the best routines make you want to visit a cafe – @bourbonstcfe Bourbon Street Cafe in LA’s Koreatown is on our radar now after these #SWRBC performances

11:58 simple syrup, sparkling water, espresso – “the lady gaga of americanos” – @paulsrant with the BEST sig drink name of #swrbc thus far

Jess Brooks, Allegro Coffee, Denver

12:09 Denver’s own Jess Brooks (@allegrocoffee) is live now – room at #swrbc feels SO much more lively and energetic today. a pleasure to be here

12:16 jess competes for THAT allegro coffee – your can purchase their coffee at every whole foods on earth, with moonbase locations coming

Greg Lefcourt, OZO Coffee, Boulder, CO

12:23 mr. lefcourt won the 2010 mountain regional barista competition, prior to it being subsumed by the #swrbc redistricting

12:26 typica, red & yellow bourbon, clean and well-balanced, “shade grown is not just a buzz word anymore” – mr. lefcourt

12:29 mr. lefcourt competes using @ozocoffee la libertad ecuador – grown at 6000 meters (even higher than the elevation in denver!)

12:31 economy of movement – that thing where every last bit of kinetic energy is employed intentionally – greg lefcourt has it

12:38 whip cream for clouds, sugar for fruit, honey and chamomile for the ecosystem – his sig drink is meant to channel ecuador

Anthony Luat, Honolulu Coffee Co., Honolulu

12:59 mr. luat delivers a solid, workmanlike, professional performance representing @honolulucoffee at the #swrbc

Michael Stetson, The French Press, Santa Barbara, CA

1:03 Mr. Stetson competes using natural processed 1800 meter catuai from panama, roasted by @Vervecoffee

1:08 goes for capps with strawberry sweetness, followed by smooth dark chocolate flavors

1:14 homemade strawberry and lime soda, topped by 1 shot, accompanied by a chilled v60 – mr. stetson’s sig drink

Kevin Bohlin, Ritual Coffee Roasters, SFO

1:22 kevin “tex” bohlin works at the @ritualproxy location in hayes valley – your go-to for espresso and people watching in SFO

1:25 between the “drive” soundtrack and mr. bohlin’s gosling-esque good looks, i’m personally fearing a bludgeoning…

1:30 candied cherries, aged balsamic, sparkling rhubarb bitters – plus coffees harvested 1 week ago in guatemala – wow

1:32 “a celebration of history, and a taste of newness and change” – tex bohlin’s routine in a nutshell

Truman Severson, Portola Coffee Lab, Costa Mesa, CA

1:44 sig drink includes argon gas charged with cocoa nibs, and we presume, magic.

Michelle Powell, Java Junction, Santa Cruz

1:58 michelle powell of santa cruz’s own java junction, crowd favorites

Jose Ortez Jr., Red Berry Coffee Bar, San Jose, CA

2:15 with selections from the pulp fiction soundtrack and pulp’s “common people”, mr. ortez jr. offers our favorite music of the day so far

Robert August-Norton, Chocolate Fish Coffee, Sacramento, CA

2:40 mr. august-norton competes in front of a judging panel comprised entirely of beards and moustaches

2:50 from a user on the justintv stream, as per robert august-norton: (gabelucas) “word, he seems confident”

Shelli Maciel, Weavers Coffee and Tea, San Rafael, CA

3:00 the house music, she bumps. learn more about @weaverscoffee here: http://www.weaverscoffee.com

Charles Babinski, Intelligentsia Coffee, LA

3:13 @charlesbabinski sets the table in front of the judges to start his routine!

3:17 on his espresso – “Incredibly sweet, juicy, a little intense, to be honest that’s why i like it – let me show you”

3:23 his coffee – bolivia takesi – is grown at 2400 meters – agronomists told the farmers they were crazy

3:27 two separate sig drinks – @charlesbabinski – extractions with simple syrup, then “red velvet cake” with vanilla ice cream”

Devorah Freudiger, Equator Coffees and Teas, San Rafael, CA

3:39 devorah: fig & plum espresso notes, talks about clover dairy milk (@cloversternetta) “i drive by these cows on my way to accounts”

3:47 perfect pouring – such grace! – a whole crowd of smiles…front row… loving devorah’s routine

Matthew Sinclair, Blue Bottle Coffee, Oakland

4:08 new zealand’s own matthew sinclair is the first @bluebottleroast competitor in history!

Daniel Tellez, The Kind Grind, Santa Cruz

4:11 up now, daniel tellez of the untweetable “the kind grind” here in santa cruz

4:22 “i’ve never taken a canoe down the amazon – i’ve never been to an estate in guatemala, i’m a regular working barista” – daniel tellez

Justin Williams, Specialty’s Cafe, SFO

4:34 @specialtys is a long-standing national @intelligentsia account – justin williams works for them in san francisco

4:40 justin williams @specialtys left an ingredient backstage! he bolts offstage and is back in 20 seconds! can he still finish on time?

4:51 justin williams finishes at 15:02, after sprinting off stage to grab an item – he’s the first ever @specialtys competitor

Josh Richards, Cartel Coffee Lab, Tempe, AZ

5:05 a real solid performance here close to the end of the day from josh richards, doing @cartelcoffeelab proud

Chelsea Greene, OZO Coffee, Boulder, CO

5:07 very impressed all weekend by the colorado and arizona teams at #swrbc – a pleasure to try @ozocoffee and @cartelcoffeelab at 3rd machine

5:15 beautiful tablesetting for chelsea greene of @ozocoffee – paisley maroon and olive green cloth… very controlled, nuanced routine

5:19 sig drink “the bantado” – as talking heads “life during wartime” plays – banana, maple syrup, ginger, espresso, milk

The post SWRBC Day Two: A Fantasia of Tweets and .Gifs appeared first on Sprudge.com.

Here’s the six finalists and times for Finals Sunday at SWRBC 2012. Competition begins just after 11am:

1. Percy Ramirez, Intelligentsia Coffee, Pasadena @PercyR_, @intelligentsia

2. Kevin “Tex” Bohlin, Ritual Coffee, San Francisco – @ritualproxy

3. Alfonso “Fonzy” Portela, Chocolate Fish Coffee, Sacramento – @chocfishcoffee

4. Charles Babinski, Intelligentsia Coffee, Venice – @charlesbabinski, @intellivenice

5. Lizzy Sampson, Verve Coffee Roasters, Santa Cruz – @vervecoffee

6. Jared Truby, Verve Coffee Roasters, Santa Cruz – @JTrubaca, @vervecoffee

The post 2012 SWRBC Finalists & Sunday Schedule 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.

Our coverage this weekend is made possible by direct sponsorship from Verve Coffee Roasters, who happen to also be the hosts for this year’s SWRBC.They’ve opened up their sleepy little beach town to throngs of coffee types from all across the country, for what promises to be an utterly Santa Cruz weekend of tacos, sea lions, and amazing coffee. When you support Verve, you support Sprudge.

Your first stop is here, the official SWRBC listing via the Specialty Coffee Association of America. You can check out a complete sponsor list there, and learn more about some of the people competing this weekend. Downloadable schedules and event listings are available via the SCAA as well.

For quick reference purposes, we’ve put together an easy set of lists for all 60 competitors performing at this weekend’s SWRBC. Here’s the barista competition: Day One schedule for Friday, March 9th, and a Day Two schedule for Saturday, March 10th. This weekend also plays host to Brewers Cup competition for the Southwest Region – Brewers Cup prelims are split between Friday and Saturday as well, with 10 entrants each day. Check out the complete Brewers Cup schedule here.

You think we’re excited for SWRBC? Check out this coverage from our “California journalist”, Cody Bonko. Dude is positively beside himself. We also published this exclusive Parent’s Guide to the SWRBC a few days back – enjoy it as a primer on barista competitions, and pass it along to mom and dad, regardless of whatever regional you competed in. We mean everything we say about how important and special these events are. You can follow our coverage all weekend by following the Twitter tag #SWRBC – check back regularly on Sprudge for photos, videos, .gifs, and other assorted madness.

Much like Mr. Bonko, you might be wondering, “Yo, where the party at?” Here’s a night by night breakdown of what’s poppin’ in Santa Cruz:

Thursday, March 10th – As we live and breathe, there is an informal mixer happening like 20 yards away from our room, at the Dream Inn Aquarius Lounge. If you’re reading this from Santa Cruz in real time, we’re hosting a casual martini and listen-to-that-ocean party from our hotel room at the Dream Inn. Write to us here for instant info: wheresmymartini@sprudge.com

Friday, March 9th – Your go-to destination for post-competition reverie is the Verve Coffee HQ (104 Bronson Street), which plays host to the SWRBC BGA party. Event begins at 6pm. This party is open to all and sundry – though if you aren’t already a BGA member, you’d do well to learn more by clicking here. Come to this event: La Marzocco rented a mechanical bull, and there will be snacks and refreshments (plus who-knows how many plans for after-after-hours).

Saturday, March 10th – Hope you packed your cummerbund! Tonight is the SWRBC “Swanky Soiree”, hosted at the Verve Coffee Downtown (1540 Pacific Ave). This event begins at 7pm. Where’s our martinis?

So that’s it! Stay tuned to Sprudge for up-to-the-second updates, finalist announcements, play-by-play, and the best competition coverage in the business.

The post SWRBC Portal: Your Guide To Santa Cruz appeared first on Sprudge.com.

Yo this is Cody Bonko from the 714, makin’ booboo on them boardwalk boobooz in Santa Cruz, straight beachin’ with my baristazz, nawmean? Bonko’s got mad flavor, y’all, and I’m gettin COOKED in that sunshine, maxin’ out on the beach and munchin’ on that laffy taffy! SANTA CRUISIN’ BABY, rockin’ my FAT tamp stamps, droppin’ capps to the dome!

I’mma be gettin’ my Verve on while I’m gettin’ my swerve on, nawmean? Dosin’, make sure my grams be tight, sweatin’ my settins’ and goin’ BOOM BAW on the sensory dispensary! Bonko be bonezin’, nawmean? Then after after hours, I’mma be throwin’ down on the chump clowns, itchin’ for a skitchin’, ready to judge or be judged, y’all. Who’s ridin’ the bull?

Here’s three bangin’ tips for yo’ weekend on the freak end:

1. Don’t waste my flavor. Damn!

2. Watch your time like you watch your buck-buck. Keep it hand-brewed, and don’t DQ on some OT.

3. Yo, these booboos be bouncin, nawmean? But watch out for them honey bees!

That’s it y’all. Stay ziplocked, get that KNOCK BOX on, and keep yo’ flavor wrapped like the Easter Bunny. Cody B out!

The post #SWRBC: Where The “B” Stands For Bonko appeared first on Sprudge.com.

Barista Competition schedule for Round One, Day Two of the SWRBC.

Saturday, March 10th – 20 competitors beginning at 10:50am PST.

21. 10:50 Jeff Garcia, N:1 Coffee, Oakland – @jeffador

22. 11:09 Chris Gaoiran, Alexander’s Steakhouse, Cupertino, CA – @_Cappsized

23. 11:28 Paul Joo, Bourbon Street Cafe, LA – @paulsrant, @bourbonstcfe

24. 11:47 Jess Brooks, Allegro Coffee, Denver – @allegrocoffee

25. 12:06 Greg Lefcourt, OZO Coffee, Boulder, CO – @ozocoffee

26. 12:25 Anthony Luat, Honolulu Coffee Co., Honolulu – @honolulucoffee

27. 12:44 Michael Stetson, The French Press, Santa Barbara, CA – @mulchstetson, @leFrenchPress

28. 1:03 Kevin Bohlin, Ritual Coffee Roasters, SFO – @ritualcoffee

29. 1:22 Truman Severson, Portola Coffee Lab, Costa Mesa, CA – @trumanseverson, @portolacoffee

30. 1:41 Michelle Powell, Java Junction, Santa Cruz

31. 2:00 Jose Ortez Jr., Red Berry Coffee Bar, San Jose, CA -@redberrycb

32. 2:19 Robert August-Norton, Chocolate Fish Coffee, Sacramento, CA – @ChocFishCoffee

33. 2:38 Shelli Maciel, Weavers Coffee and Tea, San Rafael, CA – @weaverscoffee

34. 2:57 Charles Babinski, Intelligentsia Coffee, LA – @charlesbabinski, @intelligentsia

35. 3:16 Devorah Freudiger, Equator Coffees and Teas, San Rafael, CA – @equatorcoffees

36. 3:36 Matthew Sinclair, Blue Bottle Coffee, Oakland – @bluebottleroast

37. 3:54 Daniel Tellez, The Kind Grind, Santa Cruz

38. 4:13 Justin Williams, Specialty’s Cafe, SFO – @specialtys

39. 4:32 Josh Richards, Cartel Coffee Lab, Tempe, AZ – @Cartel_DTPHX

40. 4:51 Chelsea Greene, OZO Coffee, Boulder, CO – @ozocoffee

The post SWRBC Quick Reference Schedule – Day 2 appeared first on Sprudge.com.

Barista Competition schedule for Round One, Day One of the SWRBC.

Friday, March 9th – 20 competitors beginning at 10:50 AM.

1. 10:50 Jon Stovall, Cognoscenti Coffee-Atwater Village, LA – @cogcoffee

2. 11:09 Alan Gomez, Portola Coffee Lab, Costa Mesa, CA – @portolacoffee

3. 11:28 Olja Goolsby, Cibo, Sausalito, CA – @cibosausalito

4. 11:47 Lizzy Sampson, Verve Coffee Roasters, Santa Cruz -@ vervecoffee

5. 12:06 Jonathan Stauf, Top Dog Coffee Roasters, Morro Bay, CA – @topdogcoffeebar

6. 12:25 Nick Purvis, The French Press, Santa Barbara – @lefrenchpress

7. 12:44 Eli Kalen, OZO Coffee, Boulder, CO -@ozocoffee

8. 1:03 Macallie Atkinson, Prescott Donut Factory, Prescott, AZ -@MacallieA

9. 1:22 Annie McGee, Ritual Coffee Roasters, SFO – @anniemcgee, @ritualcoffee

10. 1:41 Justin Carleton, Handsome Coffee Roasters, LA – @CarletonJustin, @handsomeroaster

11. 2:00 Scott Yost, Local 123, Berkeley -@local123cafe

12. 2:19 Ryan Plaza, Honolulu Coffee Co., Honolulu – @honolulucoffee

13. 2:38 John Lee, Bourbon Street Cafe, LA @bourbonstcfe

14. 2:57 Tim Beckley, Fix Coffee, LA – @FixCoffeeCo

15. 3:16 Kayla Blowers, Temple Coffee, Sacramento – @blahKaylablah, @templecoffee

16. 3:35 Jared Truby, Verve Coffee Roasters, Santa Cruz – @JTrubaca, @vervecoffee

17. 3:54 Alfonso Portela, Chocolate Fish Coffee, Santa Cruz – @ChocFishCoffee

18. 4:13 Percy Ramirez, Intelligentsia Coffee, Pasadena, CA – @IntelliPasadena

19. 4:32 Jason Lenington, The Abbey, Santa Cruz – @theabbeysc

20. 4:51 Jen Macias, Cartel Coffee Lab, Phoenix, AZ – @Cartel_DTPHX

END DAY ONE – Day Two schedule available here.

The post SWRBC Quick Reference Schedule – Day 1 appeared first on Sprudge.com.