We’re buzzing about the 2013 United States Cup Tasters championship. It’s one of the most exciting spectator competitions happening this week. What is it? For more, we turn to the World Cup Tasters website:
“Coffees of the world have many distinct taste characteristics and in this competition format the objective is for the cupper to discriminate between the different coffees. Three cups are placed in a triangle, with 2 cups being identical coffees and one cup being a different coffee. Using skills of smell, taste, attention and experience, the cupper will identify the odd cup in the triangle as quickly as they can. A total of 8 triangles are placed in each round. The top 8 competitors with the most correct answers and the fastest time proceed to the next Semi-Finals round. Then the top 4 will compete again in the Finals round to determine the next World Cup Tasters Champion.”
There’s a lot of talented tasters lined up this year. Here’s a breakdown, complete with their Twitter handles so you can cheer them on and send them love online. The fun starts Thursday, April 11th.
| Round 1, Day 1 | Station 1 | Station 2 | Station 3 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 12:00PM | Jordan Barber Intelligentsia Coffee @barber_jordan |
Jon Ferguson Dogwood Coffee @joneferguson |
Samuel Demisse Keffa Coffee @keffacoffee |
| 1:00PM | Charles Babinski G&B Coffee @charlesbabinski |
Chris Finch Volcafe |
Navin Sivakumar Independent @navinsivakumar |
| 2:00PM | Erin Wang Molinos de Honduras |
Paul Massard The Roasterie @thebeanhunter |
David Stallings Blue Bottle Coffee @davidshaub |
| 3:00PM | Jeff Duggan Portola Coffee Lab @portolacoffee |
Liz Clark Gimme! Coffee @gimmecoffee |
Bill Guddeck Wicked Joe Coffee Roasters @wickedjoecoffee |
| Round 1, Day 2 | Station 1 | Station 2 | Station 3 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 11:00AM | Erin McCarthy Counter Culture Coffee @erinmccarthy88 |
Andy Kwon Elabrew @cup3d |
Andy Sprenger Independent |
| 12:00PM | Anne Cooper Dallis Bros. Coffee @supacrema |
Wee Jin Chew Ceremony Coffee @ceremonycoffee |
Mark Inman Olam Specialty Coffee @olamcoffee |
| 1:00PM | Matthew Swenson Dallis Bros. Coffee @dalliscoffee |
Michael Callahan Intelligentsia Coffee @intelligentsia |
Camilla Ramos Panther Coffee @milamos |
Here’s an epic clip of MC Alf Klausen announcing the winner of the 2011 World Cup Tasters Championship:
The winner of the US Cup Tasters Championship will compete at the 2013 World Cup Tasters Championship at the SCAE World of Coffee expo in Nice, France on June 26th-28th. Holler.
