Take a Sip of Our SCA Expo Recap
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| Photograph by USLAC at the USCC Latte Art Competition |
SCA Expo is Back in Boston!
Reiko Piekarski, Director of Coffee Programs | Fortuna Enterprises, LLC
Two years have passed since working alongside coffee professionals from across the nation judging the US Coffee Championships as the pandemic nipped at our heels. Admittedly, the interactions and friendships forged with the people in the industry was what I craved and missed the most. Descending the Boston Convention Center escalator to the exhibition floor still lined with crates in front of booth assignments seemed surreal this year. It is hard to believe three years have passed since I last crossed the floor of the Specialty Coffee Association Expo floor. The feeling of excitement and nostalgia replaced anxiety upon returning to the space where my Fortuna chapter in my coffee career branched off. Words cannot fully express how it felt to be back at SCA Expo this year. Here are some of the highlights of the 2022 Boston SCA Expo.
US Coffee Championships
The coffee competitions were not only back in full force, but the US Latte Art portion was reintroduced to the lineup. I had the honor to train new judges and serve on the panels this competition season. The baristas never cease to amaze me with their professionalism, poise, and talent during these events. Most of my laser eye focus was on the movements and actions of the competitors in the workstation space however glances of some of the artwork free poured into the lavender-colored cups were stunning. Competitors are required to submit photos of the designs they are attempting to pour for the visual judge evaluations. Pours are scored based on symmetry of design, clarity, complexity, and overall impression as well as the technical skills of operating the equipment provided. There are two rounds of pours which factor into the overall score, free pouring identical 10 oz lattes and 3 oz macchiatos. In the conclusion of the 2022 Latte Art Competition Piyapat Lapteerawut with the Coffee Project New York claimed first place followed by Boston native Tracy Jiang with Intelligentsia in second and Ed Griffin with Messenger Coffee in third.
Photograph by USLAC at the USCC Latte Art Competition
Other competitions happening simultaneously in the activity hall included Cup Tasters, Brewer’s Cup, Coffee in Good Spirits, Roasters, and Barista. Although the Latte Art was on the opposite side of space from the Barista competition stage, the excitement and cheers echoed throughout the vast area. There were a lot of new faces in the US Barista competitor lineup. However, one competitor stood out, not just because of their winning performance on the stage but their incredible influence on social media. Morgan Eckroth who claimed this year’s Barista title has been creating media content including the signature beverage prepared for the routine. Not only did they draw an audience over the competition weekend but thousands of their online following tuned in as well. You can watch Morgan’s winning routine 2022 US Barista Championship Winning Routine and see what it takes to become a coffee champion yourself. To see the complete list of the winners you can visit the US Coffee Championships website or jump over to YouTube and search for the competition recorded streams.
Coffee, Coffee Everywhere!
There was no shortage of coffee being served throughout the course of the Expo weekend. The Roaster Village and Barista Guild bar were centrally located in the activities hall drawing in people as they drifted between competition stages. Some of the roasters featured included the 2022 Roaster of the Year Little Waves Coffee located in Durham, NC, and some incredible lots of coffee from the Cup of Excellences winners. Coffee celebrities were also spotted throughout the weekend. World and national champions like Lem Butler with Black & White Roasters and Andrea Allen with Onyx Coffee were weaving through the crowds stopping for photo ops, congratulating competitors as they finished routines, and some even could be spotted pulling some espresso shots at various exhibitor booths. If you pay any attention to the NBA, then you would have immediately spotted Jimmy Butler of the Miami Heat roll into the SCA Expo. The professional basketball player, coffee enthusiast, and owner of BIGFACE Brand was recently featured in the latest issue of Barista Magazine so naturally, his presence stirred up a buzz on the convention floor.
Go, Go Coffee Gadgets
The excitement of all the coffee competitions is certainly riveting but one of the best parts is exploring the showroom floor for the latest espresso machines and brewing equipment. If you have ever been to a car show, imagine the SCA Expo as the equivalent display of machinery, but instead of cars there are espresso machines, roasters, tools, and other brewing apparatuses. Eversys caught my eye with their towering booth displaying fully automated espresso machines. The quality of espresso and texture of milk produced in these automatic machines were what impressed me the most. The interface is easy to navigate, really maximizing the efficiency of drink preparations behind the bar. Then there is the Perfect Moose which is a programable automated steaming unit. The color-coded pitchers associated with the different types of dairy and plant based milks have RFID chips on the base which are associated with the different programed recipes.
One of my favorites new coffee tools spotted on the floor was the Boston Electronic Tamper. This handheld wireless auto tamper is lighter than a distribution tool and some tradition tampers out in the market. It can charge on a wireless charging base while not in use. The prototypes with their 3-D printed cases are on sale on their website but there is a bit of a lead time if you want to get your hands on this tool. Ground Control which resembles the Lost in Space robot is boldly going forward in the coffee industry. The reversed design with the brew basket at the base instead of at the top allows for an immersion style brewing. With a vacuum chamber inside this brewer the barista can produce hot or iced coffee, tea, and even batched ice lattes. The most engaging part of this unit is watching the coffee or tea travel through the glass reservoir at the top of the unit before dispensing into a vessel. The quality of the beverage produced is also well balanced and flavorful. If you happen to find one of these out in the wilds, then you are in for a treat.
Meandering through the carpeted coffee corridors carefully balancing the caffeine intake with product samples all while connecting with many other professionals in the industry can be exhausting at these events. Even through the sensory overload there are moments where you can slow down and connect with people from all over the world. Whether it is an espresso machine manufacturer, green coffee purveyors, or even packing equipment companies. We all share a key component as our path’s crossroad at these events. This forging of relationships propels the coffee industry as we all strive to push the envelope and be more conscious of our individual impacts. These are the opportunities which fuel my never-ending curiosity in the coffee world, and I strive to pass along the same spark to our new coffee generations for many more years to come.
Interested in attending a coffee convention or competing? Check out some of these events happening all over the country and world.
