Well, yeah, technically I am in the Northwest already. But today I’m leaving Portland, Ore., and heading up to Tacoma, Wash., to attend the Northwest Regional Barista Competition!
The Northwest Regional, which is being super generously hosted by Dillanos Coffee Roasters, is taking place in the Tacoma Convention Center today and tomorrow for the preliminary round, and on Sunday for the finals. Here’s the schedule of events:
Friday (today)
11 a.m. to 5 p.m. ROUND ONE, DAY ONE
Saturday, Jan. 29
11 a.m. to 4 p.m. ROUND ONE, DAY TWO
4:30 “5 p.m. ANNOUNCE FINALISTS
7 “11 p.m. BIG OLD PARTY AT METRONOME COFFEE, 6TH STREET AND UNION AVE., TACOMA (everyone welcome)
Sunday, Jan. 30
10:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. FINALS
1:30 “2 p.m. AWARDS CEREMONY
And I’m about to give you a list of all the competitors, but before I do that, I wanted to let you all know that even if you can’t be in Tacoma this weekend to watch the action in person, you can see it live from your own computer! All the haps of the NWRBC will be available live on Justin TV. For some reason I can’t embed it here, so go to THIS LINK to follow it.
OK, and now… the competitors!
(In order of performance)
Ashley Rauch, Sterling Coffee Roasters, Portland, Oregon
Emily Jackson, Batdorf & Bronson Coffee Roasters, Olympia, Washington
Kelly Kieft, Cellar Door Coffee Roasters, Portland, Oregon
Caleb Peterson, Noble Coffee Roasting, Ashland, Oregon
Kyle Salmi, Albina Press, Portland, Oregon
Laila Ghambari, Stumptown Coffee Roasters, Seattle, Washington
Marty Lopes, BARISTA, Portland, Oregon
Michael Cannon, Starbucks Coffee, Kent, Washington
Michael Fernandez, Espresso Parts, Olympia, Washington
Pierce Young, Visions Espresso Service, Seattle, Washington
Rick Cox, Republic Espresso Restoration, Auburn, Washington
Ryan Willbur, Stumptown Coffee Roasters, Portland, Oregon
Ray Penrod, Public Domain, Portland, Oregon
Devin Chapman, Coava Coffee Roasters, Portland, Oregon
Jenni Dorsey, Case Study Coffee, Portland, Oregon
Lauren Ayrey, Batdorf & Bronson Coffee Roasters, Olympia, Washington
Adam McGovern, Sterling Coffee Roasters, Portland, Oregon
Bryan Arndt, Java on Sherman, Coeur D’Alene, Idaho
Thomas Surprenant, Cellar Door Coffee Roasters, Portland, Oregon
Jordan Barber, Case Study Coffee, Portland, Oregon
Kyle Brewer, Java on Sherman, Coeur D’Alene, Idaho
Robbie Britt, Espresso Parts, Olympia, Washington
Katherine Hartline, Independent, Seattle, Washington
Beau Stumberg, Off the Leaf, Billings, Montana
Tyler Stevens, BARISTA, Portland, Oregon
Stephen Zirschky, Tully’s Coffee, Snohomish, Washington
Jonathan Freihofer, Public Domain, Portland, Oregon
Jared Gum, Olympia Coffee Roasting, Olympia, Washington
Thomas Pikaart, Water Avenue Coffee/American Barista & Coffee School, Portland, Oregon
Ryan Bisson, Compass Coffee Roasting, Vancouver, Washington
Samuel Purvis, Coava Coffee Roasters, Portland, Oregon
Sarah Dooley, Espresso Parts, Seattle, Washington
Man, what a line-up! This is going to be a seriously fierce fight for the Northwest Regional Barista Competition crown! Stay tuned as I will be posting photos over the weekend from the event. And may the U.S. Regional games begin!
Yeah, GO Jordan!!