Tomorrow will be a momentous day ”the start of the final Regional Barista Competition (RBC) of 2011, leading up to the United States Barista Championship (USBC) in Houston April 28 “May 1!
I won’t say we saved the best for last with the Northeast Regional Barista Competition (NERBC) ”set to kick off tomorrow, Friday, April 8, at Milk Studios in New York City ”because the five other regionals of this year have been exciting, talent-charged events, every one of ’em. But I can promise the NERBC will not disappoint. Some of the very best baristas in the Northeast Region will be assembled in New York to kick some serious espresso butt, and throwdown at some killer parties, too.
In case you were wondering, the Northeast Region welcomes baristas from Ohio, West Virginia, Delaware, Pennsylvania, New Jersey, New York, Connecticut, Rhode Island, Maine, Vermont, New Hampshire, Massachusetts, and Maryland (whew, that’s a lot!). Here’s the star-studded line-up:
Daniel Shannon, Crespella
Ankeen McGuire, Think Coffee LLC
Kendra Sledzinski, Spruce Street Espresso
Brandon Duff, RBC NYC
Wiggles Peters, Irving Farm
Yong Gao, fete coffee
Chris Ganger, The Ithaca Coffee Company
Sam Penix, Everyman Espresso
Les Stoneham, Espresso Guild
Mike Jones, Third Rail Coffee
Mike Morgenstern, Joe
Courtney Robinson, Espresso Guild
Faith W, Muggswigz Coffee and Tea co.
Brian Gelletly, Ultimo Coffee
Charrow Charrow, Joe Cafe
Benjamin Turiano, Joe Bean Roasters
William Monroe, Seven Stars Bakery
Samuel Lewontin, World Bean & Why Not? Coffee
Ashley Gardner, Seven Stars Bakery
Jillian Roholt, Muggswigz Coffee & Tea Co
Joe Palozzi, Kobricks Coffee
Kyle Bellinger, Espresso NEAT
Queenie Folk, Dean & Deluca
(To learn more about these competitors, go HERE to see photos and bios!)
And let’s not forget that the Northeast Regional Brewers Cup competition will also take place throughout this weekend! The winner of the Northeast Brewers Cup will ”along with the NERBC champ ” travel to Houston at the end of the month to represent their region at the U.S. Brewer’s Cup Championship and the USBC!
This entire event is being very graciously hosted by Dallis Bros. Coffee ”thanks, Dallis Bros! Dallis Bros. has all kinds of fun stuff planned for the weekend, including classes taught by the folks on its awesome staff, a pop-up cafe at Milk Studios, and a 4th Machine, of course! Check out all the great activities planned for this weekend of coffee mania HERE!
And what about the parties, you ask? NYC’s got you covered on that front, too…
Tomorrow night (Friday, April 8): BGA Party! Head to Everyman Espresso, 136 E. 13th St., between 3rd and 4th Aves. 8 “11 p.m.
Saturday night (April 9): NYC Coffee People Party! Hosted by Dallis Bros., Joe, Grumpy, Gimme! and Third Rail Coffee: Held at the the Highline Loft, 508 West 26th St., 5th Floor. 8 p.m. to midnight
Man, what a weekend it’s gonna be! Even if you’re not in New York, though, you can take part in the action by watching it all go down live… pretty cool, huh? Just hit the USBC webpage on Friday, Saturday and Sunday to watch all the action!
SCHEDULE! (this is East Coast time, people)
Friday
NERBC & NE Brewers Cup Round 1: 12 “5 p.m.
Saturday
NERBC & NE Brewers Cup Round 1 continued: 11 a.m. “5 p.m.
Announce finalists of NERBC & NE Brewers Cup: 5:30 p.m.
Sunday
NERBC & NE Brewers Cup Final Round: 10:30 a.m. “1 p.m.
Awards ceremony: 1:30p.m.
