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CONTACT Tara Shenson for SCAA Phone: (562) 624-4100 Email: [email protected]

Katie Carguilo of Counter Culture Wins 2012 United States Championship and Andy Sprenger of Ceremony Coffee Roasters Takes the 2nd Annual US Brewers Cup

LONG BEACH, Calif. U.S.A. (April 26, 2012) --- Katie Carguilo of Counter Culture Coffee took the top spot at the Specialty Coffee Association of America’s 2012 United States Barista Championship (USBC). Carguilo beat out other top and professionals during a heated competition that took place April 20-22, 2012 at the Oregon Convention Center, Portland, Oregon. The annual U.S. Barista Championship recognizes achievement in the art and skill of drink preparation and service.

Top six USBC competitors for 2012: 1st: Katie Carguilo, Counter Culture Coffee, New York, NY 2nd: Charles Babinski, Intelligenstia, Chicago, IL 3rd: Chris Baca, Verve Coffee Roasters, Santa Cruz, CA 4th: Devin Chapman, Coava Coffee Roasters, Portland, OR 5th: Jared Truby, Verve Coffee Roasters, Santa Cruz, CA 6th: Travis Beckett, Peregrine Espresso, Washington, DC

During the competition, the most skilled and professional baristas from around the country showcased their skills and professionalism. Each barista prepared and served 12 orders, including four , four and four original signature drinks of their own creation, all within a 15-minute timeframe. As they created their coffee beverages, contestants engaged the judges and explained their actions and selections while expertly working the competition’s official , Nuova Simonelli, Aurelia machine, and the official grinder, Mahlkoenig Vario K-30. Seven USBC-certified judges, including one head judge, two technical judges and four sensory judges, carefully evaluated and scored each of the

contenders. Judges focused on station cleanliness, taste, beverage presentation, technical skills and total impression.

Carguilo will represent the United States at the World Barista Championship in Vienna, Austria June 12-15, 2012.

Additionally, the US Brewers Cup was held at the Exposition. The US Brewers Cup Champion is Andy Sprenger of Ceremony Coffee Roasters.

Top six U.S. Brewers Cup competitors for 2012:

1st: Andy Sprenger, Ceremony Coffee Roasters, Annapolis, MD 2nd: Jon Ferguson, Independent, Lincoln, NE 3rd: Dut Goodman, Independent, ATL 4th: Mike Marquard, Half & Half, St. Louis, MO 5th: Robbie Krask, Caffe Streets, Chicago, IL 6th: Lorenzo Perkins, Cuvee Coffee, Austin, TX

The US Brewers Cup was created to recognize and celebrate the art of manual coffee brewing. The winner will also go on to Vienna, Austria to represent the U.S. in the 2012 World Brewers Cup Championship, organized by World Coffee Events (WCE), the premier producer of events for the coffee community worldwide that engage the specialty coffee community and promote coffee excellence. WCE is founded by the Speciality Coffee Association of Europe (SCAE) and the Specialty Coffee Association of America (SCAA). For more information, visit www.worldcoffeeevents.org. To learn more about the United States Barista Championship or US Brewers Cup, visit www.usbaristachampionship.org. Photos of the 2012 SCAA Event are available for download at: http://scaaevent.org/?p=photos.

### Event Sponsors The 2012 U.S. Barista Championship (USBC) is made possible by the generous support of our sponsors Café Imports (www.cafeimports.com), Natvia (www.natvia.com), Nuova Simonelli (www.nuovasimonelli.com), Mahlkoenig (www.mahlkoenig.com), DaVinci Gourmet (www.mydrinkworks.com/davinci), Ghirardelli (www.ghirardelli.com), and Krups (www.krups.com). The 24th Annual SCAA Exposition, The Event, is made possible by our Official Host Sponsor, Boyds Coffee (www.boyds.com). SCAA’s 2012 Portrait Country for The Event is Honduras (www.ihcafe.hn). Platinum Sponsors are: BUNN (www.bunn.com), DaVinci Gourmet (www.mydrinkworks.com/davinci), Jet (www.mydrinkworks.com/jet), Oregon Chai (www.mydrinkworks.com/oregonchai), and Caffe D’Amore (www.caffedamore.com),. Gold Sponsors are: Fetco (www.fetco.com), MONIN (www.monin.com), Roast Magazine (www.roastmagazine.com), Probat Burns (www.probatburns.com), Public Domain (www.publicdomaincoffee.com), and Huhtamaki (www.huhtamaki.com).

About SCAA The Specialty Coffee Association of America (SCAA) is the world’s coffee authority and largest coffee trade association with nearly 5,000 members including member companies and their employees. SCAA members are located in more than 40 countries and represent every segment of the specialty coffee industry, including producers, roasters, importers/exporters, retailers, manufacturers, baristas and coffee enthusiasts. SCAA is dedicated to creating a vibrant specialty coffee community, recognizing, developing and promoting specialty coffee by setting and maintaining quality standards for the industry; conducting research on coffee, equipment and perfection of craft; and providing education, training, resources and business services for its members. Visit www.scaa.org.