Oregon State Fair’s Best Coffee In Oregon Championship Preliminary Rounds Held at GoodBean Coffee in Jacksonville
Jacksonville, OR Things are brewing as GoodBean Coffee in Jacksonville prepares for The Oregon State Fair’s Best Coffee in Oregon Championship, which starts Saturday, June 22nd. The competition is an annual event in which roasters from across the state feature their prime products in hopes of being crowned ‘Best Coffee in Oregon’ at the final competition, which will be August 24th in Salem at the Oregon State Fair.
According Michael Kell, Owner of GoodBean, the competition is not just about winning awards. “This is about building business relationships for everyone participating. We are personally inviting every Specialty Coffee Retailer in Oregon to the finals event and giving them VIP status. To showcase world-class coffees to these potential customers is an essential element in the success of the competition.”
The GoodBean brand took Gold Medals two years running in the 2010 and 2011 Best Coffee in Oregon Championships. This year Kell was asked by the Oregon State Fair board to sponsor and direct the competition so GoodBean has graciously withdrawn from competing or judging in this year’s tournament with top competitors including such prestigious roasters as Stumptown, Portland Roasting, K & F Coffee, Caravan, Kobos, and Café Mam to name a few. Local participants include Mellelo, Noble, Case, Oregon Mountain and Rogue Roasters.
“The competition is going to be fierce and exciting,” said Kell, explaining that participating roaster’s coffees will undergo a double-blind test by a panel of uniquely qualified judges cupping over 90 coffees from 30 roasters in 3 categories – Signature Blend, Single-Varietal and Espresso.
The preliminary event at the GoodBean in Jacksonville will be from 9am to 2pm with judges staggered every 2 hours as they rotate between categories. The coffees will be delivered to a predetermined accounting firm of Dahlin Accounting & Consulting who’ll receive the blends and re-package each entry for anonymity.
The media is welcome to attend this fun, first step to achieving the 2013 Best Coffee in Oregon award.
