After two action-packed days of coffee competition, Round One of the 2026 US Barista Championship has officially come to a close. 30 competitors took the stage here in Denver, Colorado yesterday and today, hoping to claim one of the 18 spots for tomorrow’s Semi-Finals round. And now that the dust has settled, we now know who those 18 are.
This is only the beginning. A select few will have the good fortune of running their routine a third time, in Sunday’s Finals round. But in order to do that, they’re going to have to tighten the screws on Round One’s routine if they want to stand any chance of making it through the absolute gauntlet that is the Semi-Finals.
That’s a tomorrow problem though. For now, let’s take a look at the folks who made it to the Semi-Final round of the 2026 US Barista Championship.
Sprudge Media’s coverage of the 2026 US Barista Championship is sponsored by Pacific Barista Series, Ghirardelli, Swiss Water, Cafe Imports, La Marzocco, and Huckleberry Roasters.
Livestream the 2026 US Barista Championship on YouTube hosted by event sponsor Roastronix.
10:35AM Meg Skop (she/her) – The Coffee Movement – San Francisco, CA
10:55AM Olivia Morris (they/them) – Little Bear Coffee – Albuquerque, NM
11:15AM Jake McFarland (he/him) – Black & White Coffee – Raleigh, NC
11:35AM Ziah Bloom (he/him) – Lamppost Coffee – Austin, TX
11:55AM Cole Oppedisano (he/him) – Corvus Coffee – Denver, CO
12:15PM Circle Chan (she/her) – The Coffee Movement – San Francisco, CA
12:35PM Christian Ortega (he/him) – Olympia Coffee – Seattle, WA
12:55PM Miranda Huncovsky (they/she) – Go Get Em Tiger – Los Angeles, CA
1:15PM Anthony Ragler (he/him) – Black & White Coffee – Raleigh, NC
1:35PM Seidy Selivanow (she/her) – Kafiex Coffee – Vancouver, WA
1:55PM Jak Michael Ryan (he/him) – Proud Mary – Austin, TX
2:15PM Elika Liftee (he/him) – Houston, TX
2:35PM Juan Diaz (he/him) – Know Where Coffee – Miami, FL
2:55PM David Buehrer (he/him) – Greenway Coffee Company – Houston, TX
3:15PM Stephanie Hernandez-Salazar (she/her) – Vignette Coffee Roasters – Greensboro, NC
3:35PM Jason Yeo (he/him) – Saint Frank Coffee – San Francisco, CA
3:55PM Morgan Eckroth (they/she) – Onyx Coffee Lab – Portland, OR
4:15PM Sam Schroeder (he/him) – Olympia Coffee – Seattle, WA
We’ll see you tomorrow for the Semi-Finals for the 2026 US Barista Championship!
Sprudge Media’s coverage of the 2026 US Barista Championship is sponsored by Pacific Barista Series, Ghirardelli, Swiss Water, Cafe Imports, La Marzocco, and Huckleberry Roasters.
