Last week, our Head Roaster, Eric Stone, participated in the US Roaster Championship Qualifier held in Houston, Texas. The event brought together 32 talented competitors, all vying for a chance to showcase their roasting skills on a national stage. Each participant was tasked with roasting the same coffee to the best of their abilities. What made this competition particularly thrilling was the blind judging process. All roasts were evaluated without any knowledge of who roasted them, putting the focus solely on the quality of the coffee.
Competitors were judged not only on the overall flavor profile of their roasted coffee but also on how well they adhered to their intended roast plan recipe. Factors such as intended roast level, weight loss, and temperatures were all checked for accuracy. Precision in execution became just as crucial as the final taste.
We are thrilled to share that Eric Stone secured a spot in the top 10, clinching the 9th place. The journey to this achievement was filled with meticulous planning, countless hours of practice, and a passion for the art of roasting. It was an honor for Eric Stone to be recognized among such a talented pool of competitors.
Eric, has been a regular competitor in the US Roaster Championship and regularly makes appearances in the national finals. In 2016, his first year competing, he placed as high as 3rd. Since then, the competition has evolved and now better reflects the world competition format. Eric Stone’s passion for the art of roasting and meticulous planning has helped him secure a spot in the top 10 again this year. He says that these competitions are always great learning experiences and a fun way to stay engaged with the specialty coffee community. We are proud of Eric Stone’s achievements and wish him the best of luck for the national roasting championship finals in April.
Award Winning Specialty Coffee
