We’re still waiting to hear what the plan is for our barista friends in the Northeast region, who had their regional postponed due to the terrible Hurricane Sandy event in early November. But the Specialty Coffee Association of America is working hard to secure a new date and location. Meanwhile, two more regionals are on the schedule, and they’re both going to be monumental!
Up first: The Southeast Regional Barista Competition (SERBC), November 30 “December 2, Atlanta, Georgia
This region encompasses the mighty states of Kentucky, Virginia, Tennessee, North Carolina, South Carolina, Alabama, Georgia, Florida, and Washington, D.C. Whew! There are some crazy good states in those regions! It’s been won by baristas hailing from D.C., North Carolina, and Virginia in the past. But I’d say look out for other states in the region, like Tennessee and Kentucky, where the specialty coffee scene is just growing and growing!
This regional is being generously sponsored by Batdorf & Bronson Coffee Roasters and Ponce City Market. Ponce City Market will be the venue for the event: 650 North Avenue NE, Atlanta, GA 30308
Registration is open, so if you haven’t registered, get on it! Also, this region is in need of judges, so if you can spare a day (Nov. 29) to go through judge’s training, you are urged to do so! It will sharpen your skills as a barista and trainer, and is a great way to get to know the barista community.
For more information about the SERBC, go here.
And just announced today: The Big Central Regional Barista Competition (BCRBC) will be taking place January 18 “20 in Kansas City, Missouri.
Registration just opened, so head over here to sign up to compete! And as with the SERBC, judges are always needed, so if you can volunteer your time to go through judge’s training on January 17, you will be thanked profusely, as well as taught a pretty col set of skills for evaluating baristas.
The Big Central is a combination of the states in the South Central region and the North Central region: that’s a lot of states! They are: Kansas, Missouri, Oklahoma, Texas, Arkansas, Louisiana, Mississippi, North Dakota, South Dakota, Nebraska, Minnesota, Iowa, Wisconsin, Illinois, Indiana, and Michigan. Whew! This is going to be one fierce competition!
The BCRBC is being generously sponsored by PT’s Coffee Roasting Co. and Kaldi’s Coffee. Thanks, guys! It’ll take place at The Guild KC, 1621 Locust Street, Kansas City, MO 64108
For more information, go here.
What a great season of regionals this is going to be!
