Here are your new champions

Over the weekend in Raleigh, two US Coffee Championships events took place, crowing two new national champions (sort of). At the Black & White Coffee HQ, the US Brewers Cup and US Cup Tasters brought big name competitors from around the country to give it their all and try to take home a trophy. And once the dust was settled, it was Esther Kim of Kumquat Coffee in Los Angeles crowned the US Brewers Cup champion. And in Cup Tasters, it was a familiar name, the now three-peat champion Mehmet Sogan of Memli Coffee Lab in San Diego.

Coffee on Jeju Island

Jeju Island is a special place. Close enough to Seoul for its many residents to holiday there but in just about every other respect a world away. The pace is slower and more laid back and has become a popular destination for the younger generation and artists. Which gives it the ideal conditions for a thriving coffee scene. And this week on Sprudge, Seoul-based correspondent Holden Jannusch takes us on a tour around Jeju Island for all the best coffee shops when you are “living for a month.”

Specialty coffee is up for two James Beard Awards

Earlier this year, Onyx Coffee Lab was announced as a Semi-Finalist in the Outstanding Bar category for the 2026 James Beard Awards. And now they are Finalists. From a field of 20, the Rogers, Arkansas-based roaster has made the shortlist of Finalists for the award. They are joined as Finalists by Jack Benchakul, the pastry chef and molecular biochemist and sole barista at Endorffeine Coffee in Los Angeles. Benchakul is nominated in the Outstanding Professional in Hospitality category. Winner announcements will be made in June.

World of Coffee New Orleans

Everyone is gearing up for World of Coffee San Diego next weekend but that doesn’t mean we can’t get a little sneak peak at what next year’s even is going to look like. And thanks to an announcement this week by the SCA, we now know that World of Coffee is heading to the Big Easy in 2027. And it will be bringing with it the 2027 World Roasters Championship to boot.

Press releases

From the press desk this week learned about Flair Espresso’s new eWizard Milk Steamer, an all-electric, standalone milk streamer based on their stovetop model. Meanwhile, Klatch Coffee announced the return of their beloved springtime blend, Songbird.

Hello, San Diego

As you could have expected, the big topic of conversation all week was San Diego and the upcoming World of Coffee event. And what better place to start than a primer for America’s Finest City provided by none other than Peter Giuliano. In the world of specialty coffee, Peter G. requires no introduction. But he is also a San Diego resident going on four decades now, so who better to give us a lay of the land than him? And speaking of exploring San Diego, Califia Farms has put together a Passport Program designed to get you out of the convention center and to a dozen or so of the best cafes in the city. The more cafes you visit, the better the prize you’ll receive, but the real prize is the experiencing a vibrant coffee culture. Also, taking place just a quick walk from WoC, Sey Coffee has teamed up with fellow Brooklynites the Hyunah Coffee Club for the Sey House, a chance to get hands-on and brew your own coffee with some of the best gear in the industry and a handful of exceptional coffee.

The Cottage Cheese Mocha on the Coffee Sprudgecast

What can you say about the Cottage Cheese Mocha that isn’t writ large in the name itself? In the proteinification of all things, putting cottage cheese in coffee seemed a bridge too far. Or maybe it isn’t? Your hosts on the Sprudgecast give it a try this week and I am thankful that I didn’t have to.

Roaster’s Village

We’re highlighting outstanding coffees from some of our favorite roasting partners each week here in the newsletter. This week’s selection of tasty coffees are…

8th & Roast – El Rodeo
Phil & Sebastian – Sure Thing
Onyx Coffee Lab – Geometry
Madcap Coffee – Eureka
Olympia Coffee – Big Truck
Portland Coffee Roasters – Anniversary Roast
Mr. Espresso – Java Garut
Blueprint Coffee — Ethiopia Segera
Presta Coffee Roasters - Ethiopia Guji Hambela Benti Nenka Natural

La Barba Coffee - Rwanda Kungahara Lot 12 Carbonic Maceration
Equator Coffees – Guatemala El Injerto Pacamara
PERC – Super Power Plum
Klatch Coffee – Colombia Huila Pink Bourbon Tabi Pineapple Co-Fermentation
Stumptown Coffee Roasters – Colombia Huayku
Partners Coffee – Ethiopia Suke Quto Washed
Verve Coffee Roasters – Wilder Blend
Night Swim Coffee – Bolivia Finca Rosita Java
Caffe Umbria – Bizzarri Blend

Coffee Gear!

A bi-weekly selection of coffee gear from some of the best manufacturers in the industry, both big and small. This week’s selection is…

Acaia Horizon — Post-Extraction Pressure Modulator
Comandante C40 Lab Series Hammerhead — Hand Grinder
BOOKOO Themis Ultra — IP67 Waterproof Precision Coffee Scale
DiFluid Moment — Temperature Measurement & Mapping
Ceado Hoop — Coffee Brewer
Dwell Dripper by Verve Coffee — Coffee Brewer
MiiR Camp Cup — Coffee Mug
Flair Espresso Flair Wizard — Stovetop Milk Steamer
Slow Pour Supply Kimera — Milk Pitcher
La Marzocco Home Linea Micra — Home Espresso Machine

New job listings from Sprudge Jobs

Intelligentsia Coffee - Business Development Manager - Remote in Philadelphia/Maryland/DC/West Virginia/Virginia
La Colombe - Coffee Roaster - Philadelphia, PA
Proud Mary Coffee - Roastery Assistant - Portland, OR
Katï Coffee - Production Roaster - Georgetown, TX
Utopian Coffee - Production Coffee Roaster - Fort Wayne, IN

Do you have a news tip? Feedback? A funny joke? Send us an e-mail, use the contact form on Sprudge, leave a message at 1-888-55-SPRUDGE, or send us a letter at PO Box 86342 Portland, OR 97286.