U.S. Barista Championship Creates Coffeehouse Celebrities, April 15 - 18

LONG BEACH, Calif., March 4 /PRNewswire/ -- If you're looking for the perfect espresso, cappuccino or specialty coffee drink, then get it from a winner of the Specialty Coffee Association of America's United States Barista Championship. The heated competition, which turns coffeehouse hopefuls into coffee-industry celebrities, takes place April 15 – 18, 2010 at the Anaheim Convention Center, Anaheim, Calif. SCAA is the world's coffee authority and largest coffee trade association, and its annual Barista Championship recognizes achievement in the art and skill of espresso drink preparation and service. The Championship is free and open to the public. Visit www.scaaexposition.org to learn more.

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During the United States Barista Championship, the most skilled and professional baristas from around the country showcase their skills and professionalism - preparing and serving 12 orders - in hopes of obtaining the championship title. The winner moves on to the 2010 World Barista Championship, founded by both the SCAA and the Speciality Coffee Association of Europe, in London next June.

The highly anticipated four-day competition begins on April 15 at 10 a.m. with Round One and concludes with a Champion's Ceremony on April 18 at 3 p.m. The event takes place in conjunction with the Specialty Coffee Association of America's 22nd Annual Exposition, which features more than 800 Expo booths that highlight everything specialty coffee and tea, from seed to cup.

Battling it out at the USBC, the nation's best coffeehouse professionals create some of the country's finest  espresso beverages. In total, challengers prepare and serve four espressos, four cappuccinos and four original signature drinks of their own creation-all within a 15-minute timeframe. As they ready their coffee beverages, contestants engage the audience, explaining their actions and selections, while expertly working the competition's official espresso machine, Nuova Simonelli, Aurelia machine.

Seven USBC-certified judges, including one head judge, two technical judges and four sensory judges, carefully evaluate and score each of the contenders. Judges focus on station cleanliness, taste, beverage presentation, technical skills and total impression.

Last year, Mike Phillips of Intelligentsia Coffee & Tea, Chicago, Ill., took the top spot at the USBC. Phillips went on to represent the United States in the 2009 World Barista Championship, where he took third place.

The 2010 United States Barista Champion receives the highest national honor for a barista, a trophy and an all-expenses paid trip from his or her hometown to the 2010 World Barista Championship in London this June, more information can be found by visiting www.worldbaristachampionship.com.

The United States Barista Championship is just one of the many highlights at SCAA's 22nd Annual Exposition & Symposium. The event also includes the Roasters Guild Coffees of the Year Competition, a keynote presentation by distinguished entrepreneur Arianna Huffington, and an extensive show floor. At the Coffees of the Year Competition, certified SCAA judges evaluate the world's finest specialty coffees from around the globe by cupping-thoroughly evaluating six distinct attributes of the competitors' coffee samples, including fragrance, aroma, taste, flavor, aftertaste and body. SCAA's Expo includes: green and roasted specialty coffee, espresso machines and grinders, roasting equipment, commercial and home brewing machines, coffee drinks and mixes, flavorings and syrups, chocolate and cocoa products, baked goods, confections and significantly more. Badges for the show, starting at $45 for a one day pass, are available online at www.scaaexposition.org.

SCAA 2010 Expo Sponsors

SCAA's 2010 Exposition official host partner sponsors include: Wilbur Curtis (www.wilburcurtis.com), F. Gavina & Sons (www.gavina.com) and Fres-co System USA, Inc. (www.fresco.com). At the Expo, SCAA's 2010 Portrait Country is Guatemala (www.guatemalancoffees.com). Platinum Sponsors are: DaVinci Gourmet (www.davincigourmet.com), Jet Tea (www.jettea.com) and Oregon Chai (www.oregonchai.com). The Gold Sponsors are: Diedrich Manufacturing (www.diedrichroasters.com), Fetco (www.fetco.com), Georgia Pacific Food Services Solutions/Dixie (www.dixiefoodservice.com), MONIN (www.monin.com), Roast Magazine (www.roastmagazine.com) and Probat Burns (www.probatburns.com).

About SCAA

For more than a quarter of a century, the Specialty Coffee Association of America (SCAA) has offered its members education, training, resources and business services. It is the world's largest coffee trade association, with members representing more than 40 countries and every segment of the specialty coffee industry, from growers to roasters and retailers. The SCAA has also been at the forefront of developing and promoting specialty coffee, and is committed to meeting the challenges of a rapidly changing industry by setting and maintaining standards, expanding professional certification programs, conducting industry-specific research, and providing even more opportunities to connect, exchange, and work together so our industry continues to thrive.

SOURCE Specialty Coffee Association of America