We are less than a month away from the return of the New York Coffee Masters, descending upon the Metropolitan Pavilion as part of the New York Coffee Festival October 12th through 14th. With just a few more weeks until festivities begin, Allegra Events has announced the 16 baristas who will be competing to take over the throne currently held by 2017 NY Coffee Masters champ Erika Vonie, who returns to the event this year as an emcee alongside Lem Butler (Black & White Coffee) and Jordan Michelman (Sprudge).

The 2018 New York Coffee Masters lineup reads like 2018 London Coffee Masters 2.0; there are a total of four competitors returning to give the 2018 title another crack: Janis Podins of The Coffee Collective (Latvia), Jaya Chingen of Press Coffee Roasters (UK), Wissem Ben Rahim of Ben Rahim (Germany), and semi-finalist Cole Torode of Rosso Coffee Roasters (Canada). Add in returning New York Coffee Masters competitors Varvara Stukalo of Coffeemania (Russia), Karley Jane Webb of Soul Work Coffee Roasters (USA), and Reef Bessette of The Coffee Movement (USA), as well as returning London Coffee Masters vet Remy Molina of Café Barakah (Coasta Rica) and you’ve got a recipe for fireworks.

Overall, 10 different countries are being represented at the 2018 New York Coffee Masters, competing on a clutch of hot gear from sponsors Slayer, Hario, Mahlkonig, and many more. And this year’s batch of judges is a coffee industry who’s who, with returning Head Judge Anne Lunell (Koppi) joined by Michelle Johnson (The Chocolate Barista, Sprudge), Kris Schackman (Five Elephant), Tymika Lawrence (Genuine Origin), and David Donde (Truth Coffee).

For a full list of competitors and to see their application videos, visit the 2018 New York Coffee Masters official website. Get ready, y’all, it’s about to get wild.

Zac Cadwalader is the news editor at Sprudge Media Network and a staff writer based in Dallas. Read more Zac Cadwalader on Sprudge.

Top image via New York Coffee Masters

Sprudge Media Network is partnered with the 2018 New York Coffee Festival. 

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