The Recap
2020 Brewers Cup Competition Season
The 2020 U.S. Brewers Cup championship season was broken down into three parts: 2 qualifying events and nationals. The first Qualifier was held at Dillanos Coffee Roasters in Sumner, WA the weekend of December 7 & 8, 2019. The second Qualifier was in Nashville, TN the weekend of January 11&12, 2020. The top 16 baristas from each qualifier moved on to compete at Nationals in Costa Mesa on February 21-23, 2020 to see who would be crowned to represent the United States at the World Brewers Cup Championships! Below is a recap of each of the Glitter Cat Brewers competitions and how they ranked.
At both the Qualifiers and Nationals, competitors had 10 minutes to manually brew three identical cups of coffee while walking the judges through the taste experience from hot to warm to cold. It’s a lot to do in 10 minutes and we could not be more proud of what each of these brewers showcased.
UNITED STATES BREWERS CUP CHAMPIONSHIPS NATIONAL PLACEMENTS
USBrC photos by Paige Elizabeth Hicks for Wilbur Curtis unless otherwise noted
Dre Morales
(he/him)
Glitter Cat Brewer 2020
Qualifier Ranking - 9
Nationals Placement - 10
“Build bridges, not walls,” Dre said as he served a Mexican coffee to a panel who likely didn’t see many coffees from Mexico during this Brewers Cup season. With a top ten finish in his first year, he brilliantly represented his heritage and made us so proud of someone who came into the bootcamp unsure if he was good enough and put in the work to stand among the best.
Kristina Jackson
(she/her)
Glitter Cat Brewer 2020
Qualifier Ranking - 8
Nationals Placement - 14
Kristina competes without music, everyone listens. She has the kind of speaking voice and delivery all competitors would kill for and the coffee brewing talent to match. Balancing an incredible amount of coffee knowledge with a celebration of black coffee professionals is no small task in a ten-minute presentation, but when you’re one of the hardest working professionals in the game, it comes off effortless.
Sirada “Peace” Sakulclanuwat
(she/her)
Glitter Cat Brewer 2020
Qualifier Ranking - 16
Nationals Placement - 17
From barely missing qualifying to top 20 in the nation, Peace has had an extraordinary first year. She served a Thai coffee to bring her coffee and life journey full circle and had us weeping with joy throughout this entire season. Her dedication to her craft in the face of cultural obstacles that she uses to her advantage is just one of the many ways she makes us proud.
taken for Barista Magazine
Alyssa Bell
(she/her)
Glitter Cat Brewer 2020
Qualifier Ranking - 6
Nationals Placement - 24
A sparkling dress and rainbow Aeropresses transfix you before you get swept up in Alyssa’s theme. Her routine focused on customer accessibility in competition and she used only wares that you might find in a customer’s home, which included a salt shaker she used to redistribute her sifted fines. The cleverness and joy we saw in Alyssa this year could power this whole organization.
Demi Chacón
(she/her)
Glitter Cat Brewer 2020
Qualifier Ranking - 10
Nationals Placement - 29
One thing we know for certain this year is that we have seen incredible change in Demi from her bootcamp to the national competition. Her raw talent is undeniable and now her confidence and drive are turning her into a formidable competitor. Her dreamy manner of speaking about coffee is inviting and engaging in a way you can’t quite put your finger on. We could watch her talk and brew coffee for hours and never get bored. Keep going, Demi!
QUALIFIER PLACEMENTS
USBrC photos by Paige Elizabeth Hicks for Wilbur Curtis unless otherwise noted
Nhan “Neon” Trinh
(he/him)
Glitter Cat Brewer 2020
Sumner Qualifier 18
Then there is Nhan, the fabulous flair of Brewers Cup. This competition can lean stale and in a world of science and agitation, Nhan brings energy, hand motions, “Gucci!”, and some damn good coffee. We were dancing on the edge of our seats seeing Nhan enjoy himself on that stage, and the coffee quality matched the energy.
Magda Van Dusen
(she/her)
Glitter Cat Brewer 2020
Sumner Qualifier 19
Magda took the stage looking like a third-year competitor talking about various AHA! moments in her life and in her coffee career. Her poise and control were sensational. We saw her in the backroom rehearsing notes, diving deep into flavor calls, and reminding us that even as a shop owner, you deserve a place on this stage. You're a role model to many, especially the staff of Brio Coffee Works.
Ujae Lee
(he/him)
Glitter Cat Brewer 2020
Nashville Qualifier 31
Ujae, a renowned latte artist, took some major risks this year stepping away from his comfort zone of espresso and milk and jumping into coffee brewing! This leap was spectacular to watch. His control of brewing and attention to detail while keeping his flair was sensational. Y’all, we are going to see Ujae for years to come.