The 2015 U.S. Coffee Championships is Taking its Talents to Long Beach

Long Beach Arena

The Specialty Coffee Association of America has announced that the U.S. Coffee Championships will be held February 19–22, 2015, at the recently renovated Long Beach (Calif.) Arena.

Since the 2015 SCAA’s main event next April in Seattle is playing host to the World Barista Championship (WBC) produced by World Coffee Events, this will be the first time the U.S. Coffee Championships will have been held separately from the SCAA Event since 2009. The U.S. Coffee Championships consists of the U.S. Barista Championship, the U.S. Brewers Cup, the U.S. Latte Art Championship, the U.S. Cup Tasters Championship, and the Roasters Choice Competition.

(related: A Look Back at A Really Big SCAA 2014 in Seattle (Plus Photo Gallery)

The Long Beach Arena was originally constructed in 1962, but a $10 million renovation last year resulted in the Pacific Ballroom, a 45,000 square feet customizable event space is with a floating tension grid and moveable, floor-to-ceiling curtain walls.

Competitors in the U.S. Barista Championships and U.S. Brewers Cup must first pass regional rounds to qualify for the national competition, although regional dates and locations have not yet been announced. The SCAA is currently seeking competitors and volunteers. The U.S. Coffee Championships site has info on how to do both.