Espresso-Making Competition to Decide the 2004 U.S. Barista Champion From Among Regional Winners Nationwide

LONG BEACH, Calif. U.S.A. (April 12, 2004) --- Baristas, those talented people who master espresso machines and make coffee and espresso-drink making a profession, have their own national competition. This spring, after a nationwide search, only one barista will be crowned best-of-the-best at the 2004 United States Barista Championship. The match heats up April 23 – 26 at the Specialty Coffee Association of America’s (SCAA) 16th Annual Conference & Exhibition in Atlanta, Ga. at the Georgia World Congress Center. 

   The U.S. Barista Championship encourages and recognizes professional achievement in the art and skill of espresso beverage preparation and service. Thirty-three expert baristas from around the country will vie for the U.S. championship title in Atlanta. These coffee pros represent some of the best places for specialty coffee from coast to coast. The champion will go on to compete at the World Barista Championship in Trieste, Italy, June 18-20. 

   The 2004 U.S. Barista Championship is sponsored by: Platinum Sponsor: Krups; Silver Sponsor: Da Vinci Gourmet; Official Espresso Equipment Sponsor: Espresso Specialists Inc.; and our Official Blender Sponsor: Vita-Mix Corporation. 

   Baristas from across the country will battle and demonstrate the art of espresso-making, creating some of the world’s finest coffee concoctions. Competitors will navigate through a maze of judges and photographers while maintaining composure preparing and servicing 12 coffee concoctions – four espressos, four cappuccinos, and four specialty coffee drinks of their own creation – all within a 15-minute timeframe. Seven USBC Certified Judges - one head judge, two technical judges, and four sensory judges - will evaluate each of the competitors.

   Competitors have 45-minutes of actual competition time:

· 15 minutes of station preparation time, adjusting grind, etc. 

· 15 minutes to prepare and service four Espressos, four Cappuccinos, four Signature Drinks

· 15 minutes of clean-up time to ready the station for next competitor

   "Krups thanks America's barista," said Jean-Paul Ciquier, Krups Senior Vice President of Marketing. "We are committed to supporting the nation's coffee experts and aficionados who uphold the highest standards of espresso preparation. We wish all participants the best of luck and hope all enjoy a weekend of great coffee and a wonderful competition."

   Ted Lingle, executive director of the Specialty Coffee Association of America, recognizes and appreciates the achievement of baristas nationwide. “With so many Americans purchasing their desired beverage at local coffeehouses, they’ve helped to elevate and showcase the profession of being a barista in America. Today there are an estimated 140,000 baristas in the U.S.,” said Lingle.

   The championship event is open to conference and exhibition attendees. A $45 Exhibit Hall Pass is available for all three days of the show at SCAA’s website, www.scaa.org, or on-site at the Georgia World Congress Center beginning Thursday, April 22nd at 1:00 pm.

   U.S. Barista Championship Schedule of Events:

· Friday, April 23 – Round One, 11 a.m. – 4:25 p.m.

· Saturday, April 24 – Round One cont., 11 a.m. – 4:25 p.m.; Semi-Finalists Announced, 5 – 5:45 p.m.

· Sunday, April 25 – Semi-Finals, 11 a.m. – 3:35 p.m.; Finalists announced, 4:30 – 5 p.m.

· Monday, April 26 – Finals, 11 a.m. – 1:25 p.m.; Awards ceremony, 2:30 – 3:15 p.m.

  Listing of U.S. Barista Championship Participants, and some of the best 
places for specialty coffee nationwide:

Daryn Berlin, Counter Culture Coffee, Inc., Durham, North Carolina 
Tina Borba, Caffe e Via, Walnut Creek, California 
Megan Borunda, Diedrich Coffee, Orange, California 
Jay Caragay, Jay's Shave Ice & Hawaiian Coffee, Timonium, Maryland 
Tom Childs, Bongo Java Roasting Co., Nashville, Tennessee 
Nicholas Cho, Murky Coffee, Washington D.C. 
Ryan Dennhardt, Barista's Daily Grind, Kearney, Nebraska 
Aaron Duckworth, Espresso dell' Anatra, Kansas City, Missouri 
Natalie Harry, Cup A Joe, Chapel Hill, North Carolina 
Sandy Hon, Java Jazz: Johnson County Community College, Overland Park, Kansas 
Elizabeth Justus, Open Eye Café, Carrboro, North Carolina 
Hope Laceria, Caffe e Via, Walnut Creek, California 
Dustin Manning, Rock Hill, Roasting Co., Rock Hill, South Carolina 
Esther Nelson, Jasper's Coffee Company, Des Moines, Washington 
Andy Newbom, Barefoot Coffee Roasters, Santa Clara, California 
Steve Osburn, Coffee People, Portland, Oregon 
Heather Perry, Coffee Klatch, San Dimas, California 
Mark Pfaff, Jasper's Coffee Company, Des Moines, Washington
· Joe Raines, Lava Java, Ridgefield, Washington
Spencer Roberts, The Sentient Bean, Lawrence, Kansas 
Sarah Schuckman, Cup A Joe, Chapel Hill, North Carolina 
Bronwen Serna, Hines Public Market Coffee, Inc., Seattle, Washington 
Shane Sewell, Heritage Coffee Co., Juneau, Alaska 
Brady Stewart, A Southern Season, Chapel Hill, North Carolina 
Byron Sweet, Muddy Waters Coffeehouse, Elizabeth City, North Carolina 
David Dial, Java Heads Coffee & Roasting Ltd., Tallahassee, Florida 
Phuong Tran, Lava Java, Ridgefield, Washington 
Zack Vance, Coffee People, Hillsboro, Oregon 
Michael Wickman, Cow & Bean, Dauphin Island, Alabama 
Stephanie Wiley, Espresso dell' Anatra, Kansas City, Missouri 
Billy Wilson, Stumptown Coffee Roasters, Portland, Oregon 
Two Representatives from Zoka Coffee Roaster & Tea Company, Seattle, Washington.