SprudgeLive’s coverage of the 2015 United States Barista Championship is made possible by direct support from Nuova Simonelli, Cafe Imports, and Bonavita. All of SprudgeLive’s 2015 barista competition coverage is underwritten in partnership with Square and Urnex Brands.
We’re proud to serve as official media partners of the Specialty Coffee Association of America, who produce these extraordinary events.
We reached out to each of the 2015 US Barista Championship competitors prior to their routines, to learn a bit more about them as competitors and coffee pros. We hope you enjoy these interviews!
ERIKA VONIE
Company: Everyman Espresso
Number of years behind the bar: 9
Number of competitions: 4
NERBC 2013, 9th
Big Eastern 2014, 2nd in NE
USBC 2014, 11th
Big Eastern 2015, 4th in NE
Coffee: Tairora, Papua New Guinea
Milk: 2%
Signature Beverage:
2oz peach juice, 2 tsp. tamarind concentrate, 6 shots cooled Tairora espresso, shaken with ice, strained, 1/2 oz jasmine seltzer top
Secret Weapons: I’ve competed with this coffee for three years, I know it as well as my own name.
Playlist: Jai Paul “Jasmine”
Jai Paul “BTSTU”
Chrome Sparks “Marijuana”
FKA Twigs “Pendulum”
Theme: Yes! I’m using the Tairora as a narrative to tie the importance of transparency to the effects that climate change will have on specialty coffee.
Total Practice Hours: 100 for USBC, 100 for Big Eastern, 50 for the Everyman In-House
Coach(es): While I don’t feel like they were in the role of ‘coach’ I have been privileged enough to have had access to Sam Lewontin and Sam Penix’s competition wisdom and experience.
Fashion: I’m not wearing any designer apparel, but my hope is that my outfits make people think i’m an evil witch queen.
Trivia: My parents and my boyfriend flew out to LBC to watch me, and I convinced my best friend Brian Gelletly to come out and be my support staff. I feel very, very grateful to have such an amazing amount of support from my friends and family.
Social Medias: Okan_eerieevil / ok.an.eerie.evil
