Over 3,400 coffee & tea professionals gathered at Coffee Fest Baltimore March 16-18, 2018 discovering innovative products, equipment, business services, resell merchandise, coffee, tea and much more. Coffee Fest hosted several coffee competitions over the weekend with over 60 companies and over 60 individuals contending for top spots.
Lance Hedrick of Onyx Coffee Lab in Arkansas took first place in the Coffee Fest Latte Art World Championship Open.
The now three-time placer, Hedrick says about the win, “To date, I have competed in seven Coffee Fest [Latte Art World Championship] Opens. My first was New York in 2016 and I have done every single one since. I keep coming back for two main reasons: the people and the title. I’ve made fantastic relationships with competitors across the world and they all come together for this competition. Hanging out with them is a highly alluring feature to this competition. Winning, however, is my main draw. The most anyone has ever won is three. I want four.”
Second place went to Ujae Lee of New York and third place to Ryan Lim of Virginia. Winners were each awarded with a cash prize and a custom trophy designed by Eight Ounce Coffee Supply.
America’s Best Espresso Competition brought 24 roasters from the East coast states. Participants brought their best espresso, pulled shots themselves and presented them to three judges for evaluation. Little Amps Coffee Roasters of Harrisburg, PA won first place.
Second place was awarded to Elixr Coffee Roasters from Philadelphia, PA and third place went to Open Seas Coffee from Stevensville, MD. Winners were awarded with a cash prize and a custom metal designed by Café Imports.
America’s Best Cold Brew Competition acknowledges the best tasting cold brew and nitro cold brew and drew 30 competitors. Attendees were invited to taste and vote on the cold brew and nitro they liked best and blind judge scores were combined with attendee voting results to determine the winners.
Cold Brew Still winners were: First place – Piper and Leaf; second place – Pour’n Coffee; third place – Ceremony Coffee Roasters. Cold Brew Nitro winners were: first place – Red Rooster Coffee Roaster; second place – Flight Coffee; and third place – Commonwealth Joe. Winners received a cash prize and a custom trophy designed by Created Co.
Exhibitors were invited to enter their products in the Best New Product Showcase. Three industry professionals judged each entry based on innovation and retailer appeal. Coffee Fest Baltimore New Product Showcase winners were: Best New Product, Consumable: First – Caskai, Sparkling Cascara Infusion; Second place – Waffatopia, Caramel Waffaccino; Third place – Kerry Foodservice – DaVinci Gourmet, Cold Brew Coffee Concentrate. Best New Product, Non-Consumable: First place – Brewista, Ratio Scale; Second place – Klean Kanteen, Klean Coat; Third place – Fifty/Fifty, 12 oz. bottle.
Amy Curtis, Sales & Marketing Coordinator for Kerry Foodservice said of their third-place consumable win, “The coffee community voted for our product – it shows the DaVinci Gourmet brand is responding to their challenges and needs. We are excited and honored to receive this recognition. Kerry Foodservice and DaVinci Gourmet is committed to support this community. The award inspires us to continue to innovative and push boundaries to bring new products to help operators grow their businesses.”
Attendees were invited to vote for their favorite new product in the People’s Choice “Best of Fest” New Product Competition and one winner was awarded. Waffatopia from Conshohocken, PA won for their Caramel Waffaccino waffles.
Coffee Fest is a trade-only event serving the specialty coffee and gourmet tea industries since 1992. Coffee Fest draws more than 10,000 attendees and competitors a year, connecting regional coffee communities through regional tradeshow events especially designed for coffee and tea professionals.
Holly Barrett
