Know The Weigh: The Art of Coffee Competition

Griffin Thomas, Reiko Piekarski | Marketing Manager, Coffee Director | Fortuna Enterprises, LLC 


We're entering another season of coffee competitions! Time to explore the various details and decisions involved in preparing for and competing in these events. To answer several fundamental questions, coffee expert and barista trainer Reiko Tanaka Piekarski has offered valuable insight that will surely inspire confidence in competitors and hosts alike.

What exactly happens at a coffee competition?

The US Coffee Championships have 5 separate categories: Barista, Brewers Cup, Cup Tasters, Coffee in Good Spirits, and Roasters.

Each competition season kicks off with a series of preliminary competitions hosted at various locations throughout the country. This is an informal format to encourage new competitors and judges who have an interest in participating. Those who achieve appropriately high scores in the Preliminary rounds then advance and are guaranteed spots in the Qualifiers.

Qualifiers are typically held in 2 different locations. This season, such events were hosted in Sumner, WA and Nashville, TN. The top scorers in these Qualifiers then advance to the Nationals, which will be hosted this year in Orange County, CA from February 21st to 23rd. The National champion then goes on to represent the US at the World Barista Championship, which will be in Melbourne, Australia in May.

Can you describe the atmosphere?

There is something electrifying and intense about these competitions. The pressure is not quite as intense at the preliminary level; a more low-key environment is intended to encourage new competitors to participate. For some, this initial stage helps to determine whether the coffee competition lifestyle is a good fit.

As competitors improve and rise through the various ranks, the stakes become more serious and the pressure really starts to build. The amount of excitement also grows significantly in these advanced stages. Creativity swirls as competitors begin to develop signature beverage courses. Coffee Competition enthusiasts make up a buzzing, wonderfully collaborative group within the ever-growing coffee community.

How are judges selected?

In most cases, judges are all volunteers. A great way to get involved in the coffee competition world is by signing up to judge at a preliminary. Like with competing, judging is is an excellent way to get an idea of what these events consist of.

The day prior to competitions, all the judges gather together for a calibration session. We review the rules and regulations, taste different things to get a sense of what the most common flavor attributes are relevant to coffee descriptions, and we perform test runs to get in the swing of the whole routine.

As a judge, the pressure is not as intense as it can be for the competitors - however, judges are also evaluated on their performances. At the Qualifiers, all judges are evaluated for their judging competency. If a judge displays confidence and applies the knowledge of the rules and regulations consistently the individual will likely be invited to judge at the National level. There are judging workshops and certifications in order to serve as presiding head judges and serve on the World Barista panels as well.

Who is encouraged to participate? Do I have to be a pro? Do I even have to be a barista?

Anyone is encouraged to participate! There have been competitors who are not affiliated with a coffee business and compete independently. There are certainly seasoned veterans and fresh new faces who all enter to compete. For judges, it is incredibly beneficial to have barista or some level of coffee experience to understand what is going on. There are certain categories that warrant more experience than others. That being said, through judging I have certainly learned a lot and about how I can better myself in my own practices.

Are there fees involved for participants? 

For the preliminary competitions, the participant fee is waived. Again, this is done to expand the accessibility of these competitions and broaden the competitor demographics. Once competitors move on to Qualifiers and Nationals, they are responsible for covering their registration fees in addition to travel, lodging and anything else involved in competition preparations. From there, sponsorships help the National Champion travel to represent the US on the world stage with other organizations providing access and support for interested competitors who otherwise would not be able to on their own.

Do participants have to bring anything?

At the preliminary level, competitors are not required to bring anything with them. Coffee is even provided for use at this level. Once competitors move on to Qualifiers, they will be responsible for bringing the cups and wares they intend to use during their presentation. Competitors select the coffee they will prepare during their presentations and are responsible for bringing enough with them to the competition. Espresso machines and grinders are provided by the competition sponsors. Competitors are also allowed to have up to 2 powered appliances for use in preparing signature beverages.

How are sponsors involved?

There are usually a handful of major sponsors who back these events. These are typically the equipment providers and some local businesses that pitch in. The competitions will usually have other exhibitors showcasing their products throughout the competition weekends. It is like a mini trade show combined with competition excitement.

How are competitors judged? 

Typical competitions involve two courses for the Preliminary and Qualifier rounds, then three courses for the National and World stages. Baristas prepare and serve espresso, a milk & espresso course, and then a signature beverage. The panel of judges then evaluates the beverages served along with customer service and overall presentation.

At some point around basic beverage judging, a pair of technical judges will evaluate the workflow and skills of the barista while preparing the beverages. All of the barista's movements are observed and recorded as actions correlate with the tasting experience for the sensory judges.

Finally, a presiding head judge oversees every part of the process to ensure that the scoring judges are all in calibration. These head judges do not score the competitor. The three courses must be served to the panel of 4 tasting judges within a 15 minute time.

As for the specific categories...

Brewers Cup involves the manual brewing skills of the coffee professional. A sensory panel composed of three sensory judges evaluates the presentation and quality of the coffee being brewed and served. The head judge tastes all three cups served to assess uniformity and ensure the scoring judges are all in calibration.

Cup Tasters is a fast-paced and intense race for accuracy. There are a series of cupping bowls on each of the competitor tables arranged in sets of three. Two bowls have the same coffee, while the third is different. The competitors slurp the coffee in each set and set aside the bowl that they determine to be the single different coffee. The competitors are timed and scored based on accuracy.

Coffee in Good Spirits is a relatively new category to the US competition lineup. Skilled baristas prepare two coffee cocktails, one hot/warm and one cold/chill, for each of the two scoring judges. These are then evaluated by the sensory panel with technical skills being observed by a separate judge and a presiding head judge.

Roasters is yet another relatively new set and one that I am not quite as familiar with. Per my understanding, competing roasters are all sent a compulsory green coffee provided by the sponsor. They then submit two pounds of that coffee which they are competing with. Judges score the submitted coffee in blind cuppings to evaluate ahead of the presentation. The roaster has five minutes with the judging panel to present the compulsory coffee that they submitted.

Three main tips for newcomers?

A passion for the industry is absolutely required for success. If you feel strongly about your career or position in the coffee community, share that enthusiasm with the rest of the world. That level of passion and dedication is infectious, driving so many of us to continue in our ever-evolving coffee careers.

Keep an open mind. Whether you are receiving feedback from a peer or being handed score sheets by a judge, take advice and learn from it. From a judging perspective, I've questioned many of my practices and processes. Doing so has helped me become a better trainer. Break out of your ego and receive constructive feedback with open arms! The coffee community is a collective of great ideas and solutions. You never know when that input could break you through any obstacles standing in the way.

You never know until you give it a try! Being on either side of the table as a judge or competitor offers an equal amount of enjoyment and excitement. With each event, our coffee community grows;  the networking that happens at these events alone will help you develop your place in the industry.


- Reiko Piekarski
Coffee Ambassador
Fortuna Enterprises, LLC

Fortuna Enterprises - 20 Years of Seed to Success!


Established in 2000, Fortuna Enterprises is the consummate leader in providing complete and comprehensive solutions for all of your coffee shop needs. Located in Greensboro, NC, Fortuna excels in unparalleled customer service by offering specialty roasted small-batch coffee, a fully stocked warehouse, imports, design, equipment repair, consulting, barista training, and more!
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