Weโ€™re getting into the meat of the 2020 US Coffee Championships season. After 12 preliminary eventsโ€”hosting a sum total 30 competitionsโ€”and two of the three Qualifying Events, the full roster has been set for the US Barista Championship and US Brewers Cup as well as half the field for Coffee in Good Spirits, Cup Tasters, and the Roasters Championship. With less than a month before the combined USBC, USBrC, and final Qualifier for CIGS, Cup Tasters, and Roasters, itโ€™s time for competitors to put the final bit of polish on their routines.

And they can do this in solitude, putting in run after run alone in a basement, but that doesnโ€™t quite get the blood pumping in the same way performing in front of a crowd does. Thatโ€™s why Royal Coffee is opening up The Crown in Oakland for all competitors to give their routines a many-eyeballed run through with the Prep Rally! And the best part, itโ€™s open to the public!

Taking place Saturday, February 8th, the Prep Rally is an all-day event where over 20 different coffee professionals across all five competitions will take turns performing their US Coffee Championships routines for a host of spectators. The Crown has allotted time for 10 Roasters, four Cup Tasters, and five competitors each for the Barista Championship, Brewer Cup, and Coffee in Good Spirits. Competitors already confirmed to be in attendance are:

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Barista Championship: Michelle Johnson (Red Bay Coffee), Jason Yeo (Saint Frank)
Coffee in Good Spirits: John Maniquis (The Point), Alexandra Hager (CJ Foodville USA)
Cup Tasters: Ryan Sullivan (Mostra Coffee), Taylor Sullivan (Philz Coffee)
Roasters Championship: Rudy Altamirano (Ilustre Specialty Coffee), Brian Clemens (Relevant Coffee), Francisco Flores Monterrosa (Equator Coffees), Jonathan Whalen (Mr. Espresso), Nicholas Berardi (Mostra), Sam LaRobardiere (Theory Collaborative)

While the Crown is still shoring up the final list, the Prep Rally is first come first served on comp slots, so if you are a competitor who is interested and is able to make it to Oakland February 8th, reach out to Royal Coffee and nab one of those last spots!

For the rest of us mere mortals who enjoy coffee on less of a superhuman level, the Prep Rally is completely free to attend. Tickets are required for entry, but they can be reserved here; you also have the option of making a small donation to Grounds for Health, which would be a pretty alright thing do to.

It all kicks off at 11:00am on Saturday, February 8th at The Crown in Oakland. For more information or to reserve your spot, visit Royal Coffeeโ€™s official website.

Zac Cadwaladerย is the managing editor at Sprudge Media Network and a staff writer based in Dallas.ย Read more Zac Cadwaladerย on Sprudge.

Top image via Royal Coffee

Disclosure: Royal Coffee is an advertising partner with the Sprudge Media Network

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