2017 Coffee Champs with producer Nilton Messias de Alemeida on Fazenda Sao Francisco in Brazil. Credit PDG.
Each year, winners of the US and World Coffee Championships have the opportunity to travel to origin. 2018 is the third year Ally Coffee has sponsored the Champ Trip, offering origin travel as a prize to foster connections and understanding in the coffee industry.
Andrea Allen, US Barista Runner Up 2017
Who attends the Champs Trip?
The following champions will attend the 2018 Champ Trip to Origin:
· Agnieszka Rojewska, World Barista Champion
· Cole McBride, US Barista Champion
· T. Ben Fischer, US Barista Runner Up
· Rebecca Woodard, US Brewers Cup Champion
· Justin Goodhart, US Brewers Cup Runner Up
· Evan Schubarth, US Roaster Runner Up
· Mark Michaelson, US Roaster 3rd place
· Ken Selby, US Cup Tasters Champion
· Zayne Dietterick, US Cup Tasters Runner Up
·Cassie Ash, Barista League USA Tour Winner
· Angela Ferrara, Barista League USA Tour Winner
Where has the Ally Champ Trip visited in the past?
For the past two years the Champ Trip visited Brazil. In 2016 we traveled to Pedra Azul in Espirito Santo, Caparao National Park in Matas de Minas, Fazenda Primavera in Chapada de Minas, Coffee Academy in Belo Horizonte, and numerous small farms and local cultural sites, from futebol games to Brazilian steakhouses.
Lem Butler, US Barista Champ 2016
In 2017 we traveled to Cerrado Mineiro, where the champs visited farms including Fazenda Dois Irmãos and to Alta Mogina, where the group visited Fazenda Joao de Boa Vista, Fazenda Peixoto, Minimahara, and Fazenda Sao Francisco. Coffee champs saw both small farms and large estates, met with third and fourth generation growers, experienced innovative experimentation and traditional methods, and spoke with women producers and sustainability experts.
Chad Wang, World Cup Tasters Champ 2017
The two years of travel to Brazil showed that the country is far from a singular place and shared with the world’s most talented coffee professionals the rich diversity and vibrancy of Brazil’s many coffee growing regions.
Where will the Ally Champ Trip visit this year?
In 2018 we are on to Colombia! Ally Coffee has been building producer partnerships and innovation projects in Colombia since 2013. This year’s trip will start in Bogota at Ally’s new origin office and visit farms and mills in Nariño, Huila, and Cundinamarca departments. The champs will also attend the Expo Especiales as special guests and meet with representatives from national coffee organizations and businesses.
Follow along! @allycoffee