The Compak Golden Bean Coffee Roasters Competition and Conference

The Compak Golden Bean coffee roasters competition and conference will take place in North America this year. This networking and education event for roasters in Australia is being hosted for the second time in North America, at Castaway Portland, Oregon from 14th – 17th September 2016.

The Compak Golden Bean aims at finding North America’s best coffee roasting business. More than 100 coffee roasting businesses are expected to take part in this year’s events. The event will consist of educational workshops and social activities. During the competition, commercial roasters would be judged in a number of categories. Award categories include Espresso, Milk Based, North American Grown (Milk Based), Organic Espresso, Single Origin Espresso, Decaffeinated (Milk Based), Pour Over Filter, Chain Espresso and Chain Milk Based.

The competition has been running so far for more ten years in Australia. It has been a key element in growth of the coffee industry in Australia. Bags are provided by Golden Bean to roasters to submit the coffees. Roasters are also encouraged to participate fully in the event as judges or delegates, although they can also submit without participating.

The overall winner of last year’s event was Mike Perry, long time roaster and owner of California’s Klatch Coffee. The event provides opportunities for roasters to network with each other. The competition’s head judges include Australian roaster and consultant Anne Cooper and American former World Barista Champion Pete Licata.

Golden Bean works in partnership with the American Barista School and Portland-based Bellissimo Coffee Advisors in the organization of the North American Competition.