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PULL JOURNAL OF JAMS, COMPETITIONS, AND BARISTA EVENTS NEW COMPETITIONS FOR COFFEE ABOUND THE WORLD BARISTA CHAMPIONSHIP reigns supreme as the most coveted title for coffee professionals on the planet. But that doesn't mean there isn't room for other coffee contests. In fact, we say the more the merrier. All competitions do is get the blood—not to mention the coffee passion—pumping, so the more (and the more varied they are) the better. Here are four new coffee competitions rolling out in the 2012–13 competition season. 3rd place: $500 plus plaque 4th place through 8th place: semifinalist certificate From the organizer, David Heilbrunn: "We began with the premise that if we could create a competition that coffeehouse owners would embrace, it would prove beneficial for the brand. Over the course of the next 16 months from that emerged America's Best Coffeehouse Competition. While we are still in the early phases of the inaugural competition it is difficult to confirm that we hit the mark, but all early indications are that America's Best Coffeehouse is going to be everything we had set for it to become, and expect it to be at the forefront of Coffee Fest trade shows for many years to come." For more information: www.coffeefest.com; facebook.com/coffeefest; twitter.com/coffeefestshow AMERICA'S BEST COFFEEHOUSE COMPETITION Organized by Coffee Fest Debut: In conjunction with Coffee Fest Seattle, September 21–23. (Look for an article about how this debut competition went in the December/January issue of Barista Magazine!) To take place at all future Coffee Fest events. Who is eligible? All coffeehouses in the U.S. and Canada, including individual units and chains. The competition is broken into three regions— Western, Central and Eastern—that will compete once per year. The Coffee Fest Seattle semifinals and finals served the Western region; Coffee Fest New York (March 8–10, 2013) will serve the Eastern region; and Coffee Fest Chicago (June 7–9, 2013) will serve the Central region. How many competitors? 20 field qualified, eight semifinalists, and three finalists. Mission: America's Best Coffeehouse Competition has been developed to determine and acknowledge the three best coffeehouses regionally in North America. Rules: America's Best Coffeehouse Competition rules are lengthy and can be found here: www.coffeefest.com/newsletter/newsletterimages/ BestCoffeehouse/ABCRules&Regulations.pdf.; Key sponsors: America's Best Coffeehouse Competition is made possible by Presenting Sponsor DaVinci Gourmet; Design & Layout Services for designing and fabricating the coffeehouse competition venue; SelbySoft, Inc. point-of-sale systems, and Natvia the 100% Natural Sweetener for supporting the competition and coffeehouses across America; and Mahlkönig for providing the whole bean and espresso grinders. Prizes: 1st place: $2500 plus America's Best Coffeehouse Competition trophy 2nd place: $1000 plus second place plaque 18 barista magazine WORLD COFFEE ROASTING CHAMPIONSHIP Organized by World Coffee Events (WCE) Debut: In conjunction with the Speciality Coffee Association of Europe's World of Coffee event in Nice, France, June 26–28. Who is eligible? All national champions from WCE-sanctioned national bodies. How many competitors? All national bodies are eligible to enter a national champion. Mission: To identify the best coffee roaster in the world. Participants in the three-stage event will be judged on their performance evaluating the quality of green coffee (coffee grading), developing a roasting profile that best accentuates the desirable characteristics of that coffee, and on the ultimate cup quality of coffees roasted. Rules: The 2013 Rules & Regulations are currently being finalized. Look for them to be uploaded to the WCE homepage for download. Key sponsors: Title Sponsor: Loring Smart Roast; Equipment Partners: Giesen Coffee Roasters, Probat, Cropster.org, PrimaGaz; and Coffee Sponsor: Café Imports. Prizes: TBD From the organizer, Cindy Ludviksen: "WCE had interest in the roasting competition because it highlighted the profession of the coffee roaster, which was not yet represented in any of the competitions. We saw the World Barista Championship inspire many baristas to learn more about