Coffee Fest to host Western Region America’s Best Espresso Competition

Coffee Fest is heading to the Oregon Convention Center from 23 – 25 October, where it will host the Western Region America’s Best Espresso Competition.  Twenty-eight coffee roasters will have 10 minutes to brew their best espresso shots from one of the four-espresso machines onsite. Competitors prepare three espressos, which are then judged by a select panel of three judges. The competitors will go head-to-head until the field is paired to 16 contestants, then eight, then four and ultimately the 2015 champion will be crowned.  “In America we love our coffee and espresso is a leap above that,” said David Heilbrunn, Show Manager of Coffee Fest. “We’ve seen this competition conducted around the country twice now and find it thrilling.” This year, Café Imports has come on-board as a new judge calibration sponsor of the espresso competition. Coffee Fest organisers said that, like them, Café Imports is committed to producing an event that is beyond reproach and will therefore oversee the judging apparatus. Café Imports joins Roast magazine, Nuova Simonelli and Rancilio in the production and sponsorship of the competition. “This competition lets roasters and attendees know what the best of the best is and that is what we strive for,” said Heilbrunn. The winner will be awarded US$2,000, the Championship Trophy and the chance to compete in the 2015/2016 America’s Best Espresso National Championship, which will be held in Nashville, Tennessee in February 2017. Klatch Coffee Roasters, Clutch Coffee Roasters and Algorithm Coffee are among the roasters signed up to compete.