South Central Regional in Full Effect!

It’s the second-to-last Regional Barista Competition of 2011 ”that means we’re really close to the United States Barista Championship! And the states represented in the South Central Regional are home to some of the best baristas in the country, so this weekend’s competition ”which kicked off today in St. Louis, Missouri ”are very surely forces to be reckoned with.

So yeah, round one took place today at the Chase Park Plaza Hotel, and the event ”which is being very graciously hosted by the awesome folks at Kaldi’s Coffee ”continues tomorrow (day 2 of round one), with the finals round on Sunday.

Not in the St. Louis area but you don’t want to miss a second of the competition? Not a problem. You can watch the whole thing here, LIVE!
Watch live video from SCAA/USBC on Justin.tv

 

The 13 competitors hail from all across the South Central region. That region, by the way, includes Kansas, Missouri, Oklahoma, Texas, Arkansas, Louisiana, and Mississippi. Among the competitors? None other than 2010 South Central Regional Barista Champ Lorenzo Perkins of Caffe Medici in Austin, Texas.

Lorenzo Perkins, reigning South Central Barista Champ.

But Lorenzo’s gonna have to pull out all the stops in order to best this group of baristas ”there’s some heavy talent here, to be sure.

South Central Regional Barista Competitors

Jacque DesMarais of the Coffee Ethic

Jonathan Meadows of Cultivar Coffee & Tea Co.

Jonathan Aldrich from Caffe Medici

Samantha McCrary from Houndstooth Coffee

Lindsey Morris from Catalina Coffee/Amaya Roasting

Jared Hamilton of Global Peace Factory

Daniel Read of Houndstooth Coffee

Jenna White of Caffe Medici

Joseph Marrocco of Kaldi’s Coffee Roasting Co.

Stephen Schuh of Kaldi’s Coffee Roasting Co.

Nicole Call of Kaldi’s Coffee Roasting Co.

William Hardy of Braodway Cafe

Lorenzo Perkins of Caffe Medici

Want to learn more about this amazing pool of baristas? Just go HERE to read their profiles!

 

 

 

 

About Sarah 937 Articles
Sarah Allen (she/her) is co-founder and editor of Barista Magazine, the international trade magazine for coffee professionals. A passionate advocate for baristas, quality, and the coffee community, Sarah has traveled widely to research stories, interact with readers, and present on a variety of topics affecting specialty coffee. She also loves animals, swimming, ice cream, and living in Portland, Oregon.