USBC 2016, Carrying His Weight in Coffee, The USBC CHAMP and A Super Five

a door opens

For the spring of the 2016 calendar year, six finalists, worked their way through the Southern climate of Atlanta, taking the stage at the Georgia World Congress Center for the Specialty Coffee Championships  with coffees from around the world and across various processes. Their stories were personal, philosophical and of the spirit of a champion promoting his ideas in the context of one of the worlds most culture-sustaining beverages.

North Carolina’s own, and multi-regional barista champion and national coffee trainer, Lem Butler of Counter Culture Coffee and Verity Resins claimed the berth, forwarding the idea of his coffee – initially discovered by accident and buoyed by collaboration, to become excellence across espresso, milk and as a signature beverage. Indeed, earning what Butler called the Cadillac of coffees, his Finca Nuguo was called the ‘SouthernPlayalisticCadillacCoffee’.  Here’s a salute to a well deserved champ, his family and the culture that has made this win possible.  As he shed a tear, so does this culture.

Now, a resounding quote paired with their music set lists as I was able to hear and document it.