It began with 136 competitors. Baristas from across America have been in competition since last October, spread across six regions and three Big Regional events. From that starting group just 18 are left in the 2014 United States Barista Championship cycle, and a schedule has now been set for Semi-Finals Saturday in Seattle. They come from teeming metropolises and humble industrial towns, from established leading roasters and upstart brands. In this list you’ll find present and future coffee directors, cafe owners, and industry leaders. Any one of them could win it all here in Seattle.
Here they are, the top 18 barista competitors in the United States, with just one cut left to go before before the top six baristas in America are declared for Finals Sunday. Let’s get ready to rumble.
All times PST. Follow @SprudgeLive for play-by-play coverage from Seattle.ย
1. 9:17ย Hadassah Wilson,ย Square One Coffee,ย Lancaster, PAย @squareonecoffeeย @hadassahedith
2. 9:36ย Josh Wismans,ย Colectivo Coffee,ย Milwaukeeย @ColectivoCoffee
3. 9:55ย Eden-Marie Abramowicz,ย Intelligentsia Coffee, Los Angelesย @MissEdenMarieย @intelligentsia
4. 10:14ย Sam Schroeder,ย Olympia Coffee Roasting Co., Olympiaย @s_schroย @olympiacoffee
5. 10:33ย Tyler Rovenstine,ย Oddly Correct Coffee,ย KCMOย @oddlycorrectย @TRovenstine
6. 10:57ย Charles Babinski,ย G & B, Los Angelesย @GandBcoffeeย @charlesbabinski
7. 11:16ย ย Andrew Grassmick,ย MADCAP Coffee,ย Grand Rapidsย @angentpilgrimย @madcapcoffee
8. 11:35ย J. Park Brannen,ย Counter Culture Coffee, New York, NYย @counter_cultureย @jparkbrannen
9. 11:54ย Jesse Raub,ย Intelligentsia Coffee,ย CHIย @Intelligentsiaย @jesseraub
10. 12:23ย Sam Brown,ย Stone Creek Coffee,ย Milwaukeeย @stonecreekcoffe
11. 12:47ย Camila Ramos,ย Panther Coffee, Miami FLย @panthercoffeeย @milamos
12. 1:06ย Erika Vonie,ย Ultimo Coffee, Philadelphiaย @ultimocoffeeย @OkAn_EerieEvilย
13. 1:35ย Nora Brady,ย Blueprint Coffee,ย St. Louisย @BlueprintCoffeeย @snackpackbrady
14. 1:54ย Laila Ghambari,ย Cherry Street Coffee House, Seattleย @CherryStreetย @lay_luh
15. 2:18ย Brenna Kail,ย Intelligentsia Coffee,ย CHIย @Intelligentsia
16. 2:37ย Trevor Corlett,ย Madcap Coffee Co.,ย Washington, DCย @MadcapCoffeeย @tjorlet
17. 2:56ย Cole McBride, PublicUsย /ย Veltonโs, Seattleย @colecoffeeย @visionsespresso
18. 3:15ย David Fasman,ย Kaldiโs Coffee,ย St. Louisย @Kaldis_Coffeeย @DavidFasman
Sprudge.com’s coverage of the 2014 United States Barista Championship is made possible by direct support from Cafe Imports and the Wilbur Curtis Company. All of our 2014 barista competition coverage, domestic and international, is underwritten by support from Nuova Simonelli.ย
We’re proud to serve as official media partners of the Specialty Coffee Association of America, whose professional and courteous staff organize and execute these extraordinary events.ย ย
Top photo of Seattle by Thatcher Kelly.ย
