Sweet Bloom is hosting the 2022 United States Coffee Champs Preliminaries!
The Prelim competitions are here to vet new competitors moving forward into the USCC Qualifier Events that lead to the US National Coffee Championships. These events increase access to new competitors, judges, and volunteers, and allow for more opportunities for the specialty coffee community to participate at the local level.
Four competitions!
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Barista
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Brewers
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Coffee in Good Spirts
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Latte Art
These community events are a great way to get involved on the competition level. Compete, Judge, Volunteer, or become a Sponsor, and be on the ground floor of this years competition season.
Schedule of Events
Friday, Sept. 16, NOT OPEN FOR THE PUBLIC
9am – 4pm – Judges Calibration – Great place to learn how to become a judge, and calibrate to judge the competition.
Saturday, Sept. 17, OPEN TO THE PUBLIC
8am – 11am – Competitor Practice Time: Competitors will practice their routines with the coffee and equipment.
10:30 am – 4:00 pm – Market Open in Sweet Bloom Parking Lot – Vendors to be announced
12:00pm – 4:30pm – Competition Performances in Barista, Brewers, Coffee in Good Spirits, Latte Art
4:30pm – 5:00pm – Announcements for Top 3 Competitors in CiGS and Latte Art
6:00pm – 10:00pm – Prelims Party @ Hearth
Sunday, Sept. 18, OPEN TO PUBLIC
8am – 11am – Competitor Practice Time: Competitors will practice their routines with the coffee and equipment.
12:00pm – 2:30pm – Competition Performances in Barista, Brewers
10:30 am – 3:00 pm – Market Open in Sweet Bloom Parking Lot – Vendors to be announced
3:00pm – 4:00pm – Announcements for Top 3 Competitors in Barista and Brewers
Competitors: Barista, Brewers Cup, Coffee in Good Spirits, Latte Art
We will see 42 competitors from near and far, over two days in 4 competitions!
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Barista – 17 In presentation order
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Sept. 17, Saturday
- Eric Yochim – Sweet Bloom Coffee Roasters
- Gray Kauffman – Caffe Vita
- Addison Mathis – Perc Coffee
- Maja Balabanova – Novo Coffee
- Alex Prevost – Colectivo Coffee Roasters
- Rafael Levy – Dirt Coffee
- Zippora Hanson – The Siren
- Selina Gonzales – Blue Bottle Coffee
- Anna Miguel – Switchback Coffee Roasters
- Isaiah Sheese – Archetype Coffee
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Sept. 18, Sunday
- David Ellis – Crema Coffee
- Claudia Campero – Crema Coffee
- Ryan Soriano – Corvus Coffee Roasters
- Colin van Boatel Buckley – Novo Coffee
- Mari Jurado – Novo Coffee
- Olivia Montoya – Boxcar Coffee Roasters
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Brewers – 15 in presentation order
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Sept. 17, Saturday
- Adam Stansell – Barista
- Kathie Hilberg – Stumptown Coffee Roasters
- Jesus Iniquez – Archetype Coffee
- Daniel Teplitz – Klatch Coffee
- Sam Peyton – Texas Coffee Traders
- Alejandro Cardenas – Klatch Coffee
- Heather McCullough – Novo Coffee
- Caleb Schwarz – Switchback Coffee Roasters
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Sept. 18, Sunday
- Jacob Ainsworth – Corvus Coffee Roasters
- Isaiah Sheese – Archetype Coffee
- Nathan Apodaca – Boxcar Coffee Roasters
- Grant Schumacher – Corvus Coffee Roasters
- Gonzalo Villalpando – Alpine Modern Cafe
- Shawn Marron – Harbinger Coffee
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Coffee in Good Spirits – 8 in presentation order
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Sept. 17, Saturday
- Jordan McClone – Colectivo Coffee Roasters
- Linnea True – Boxcar Coffee Roasters
- Ashton Longwell – Switchback Coffee Roasters
- Nathan Apodaca – Death & Company
- Shawn Marron – Harbinger Coffee
- Natasha Solowoniuk – Caffe Vita
- Crystal Lopez – Harbinger Coffee
- Karynn Brown – Independent
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Latte Art – 4 in presentation order
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Sept. 17, Saturday
- Chloe Talbot – Novo Coffee
- Edward Griffin – Messenger Coffee
- Kayla Herrera – Iconik Coffee Roasters
- Hunter Burnette – Sweet Bloom Coffee Roasters
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Judges & Volunteers:
No experience needed to sign-up as a judge for the Denver Prelims! Make sure to read the Rules & Regulations (*linked below) for the competition you would like to judge, and there will be an online Judges Session to go over any questions you might have. All potential judges must attend and pass the Calibration Day on September 16, but do not fear, we have some great Head Judges that will lead the way and teach you the skills need to become a rock star judge. This is a great first step if you would like to judge at National level!
Barista Judges:
- Head Judge: Traci Armstrong – Balzac Brothers
- Stephen Carriger – Colectivo Coffee Roasters
- Kaylee Melendez – Independent
- Charli Maher – Corvus Coffee Roasters
- Amit Manocha – Cafe Tracker
- Pacharej Pop Nuntanavooth – Sonder Coffee & Tea
- Arianna Angeles – Independent
- Kristi Persinger – January Coffee
- Tamara Vigil – Tam’s Barista Development
- James Horner – At home coffee hero
- Graham Zander – Unravel Coffee
- Hana Yoshimoto – Oatly
- Adian Utesch – Sonder Coffee & Tea
- Missi Calvert – Independent
Brewers Judges:
- Head Judge: Kate Blackman
- Garrett Sawyer – Independent
- Kaitlyn Hikcmann – Independent
- Caleb Luck – Independent
- Erik Shoeneman – Independent
- Benjamin Glennon – Independent
- CarylMay Herlyck – Sweet Bloom Coffee Roasters
- Emily Fager – Independent
- Daniel Sailer – Independent
- Janie Chen – The ECDBNBC
- Seth Cohn – Independent
Coffee in Good Spirits Judges:
- Head Judge: Lee Sill – Good Citizen Coffee
- Divya Raghavan – Independent
- Brian Wegner – Independent
- Kaylee Melendez – Idependent
- Ryan Stoltzfus – Bear Creek Distillery
- Sharon His Yan Fung – Port of Mokha
- John Imig – January Coffee
- Justin Hoffman – Sweet Bloom Coffee Roasters
- Jadon Tanguma – Sweet Bloom Coffee Roasters
- Kevin Kilgas – Independent
Latte Art Judges:
- Head Judge: David Chou – Stumptown Coffee
- Michaela Luck – Independent
- Kat Archuletta – Sweet Bloom Coffee Roasters
- Emily Fager – Independent
- Arianna Angeles – Independent
- Moss Olson – January Coffee
- Graham Zander – Unravel
- Sheli Maciel – Allegro Coffee Company
- Luna Santiago – Publik Coffee
- Ashley Swinehart – Sweet Bloom Coffee
Are you a coffee professional or enthusiast inspired to volunteer and get involved? Or would like to become an official sponsor for the event. Email miguel@sweetbloomcoffee.com
