Golden Bean's roaster-judged contest: a look behind the competition

Roughly a decade ago, I began imagining a way to bring attention to the people in coffee whose work usually goes unseen.

Roasters operate at the back end of the business. They are the ones shaping the product that gives a coffee company its identity and its flavor profile.

In what is essentially a team effort to move green beans into the cup, baristas receive most of the recognition. They are unquestionably a vital part of the chain, but I felt the story being told was incomplete.

My view was that the entire coffee business chain deserved recognition, roasters included. With support from across the industry, we could shift how the coffee market thinks and elevate the roaster's craft by building an independent competition that brought every participant into the picture.

The crucial distinction: roasters would serve as judges. The wine industry has done exactly this for a century or more, so I assumed it wouldn't be too difficult to pull off.

Over the years, the Golden Bean team has refined every part of the event using feedback from past competitors. We have adjusted the format to make it as fair and ethical as we can.

Entries have increased 20 percent each year, and thousands of coffees are evaluated across the event's four days. Each category is brewed using current technology and top-quality equipment.

Sean Edwards, Head Bean

This year follows the same approach: Puqpress regulates every espresso shot for consistent tamping, and the online booking platform Award Force tracks each coffee from entry through to the judging table.

I am also very fortunate that Jan Weigel now plays a major role on the Golden Bean team in North America. Through her involvement and ownership of our website, Jan brings more than 25 years of coffee industry knowledge. She is a friend to everyone. Jan has made my life much easier—organizing events, sharing her grasp of the global coffee industry, and translating my Australian accent into English.

Today, the Golden Bean Coffee Roaster Competition is the largest coffee roasting competition in the world.

CALLING ALL COFFEE ROASTERS

One of our biggest challenges, however, is getting coffee roasters to actually attend Golden Bean and be a part of the judging and conference format. To judge over 1,000 coffee entries, we need at least 100 coffee roasters in attendance.

Roasters always say the same thing—that it is too hard to leave the business for so many days. The result we see, though, is that the roasters who do attend come back the following year. Once they’ve been to the Bean, they see the value and effort behind it. The Golden Bean is about the roasting community, and by attending, they can build a bigger, better network.

Attendees are also judges at the Golden Bean.

After 10 years of national competition, we have networked hundreds of coffee products and service companies together, from green bean farmers and agents, to foreign diplomats, machine manufacturers, and technology suppliers—all coming together over four networking days.

Between judging sessions and over lunch, industry experts and suppliers talk about innovations and issues. Fun social events in the evenings let everyone get to know each another on a more personal level.

Saturday morning is the Green Bean Zone, the place for green bean companies to cup their origins with coffee roasters in attendance. The Golden Bean is an amazing sales tool for coffee companies, with millions of dollars in sales generated. Affiliated businesses are also welcome to showcase their solutions at the Green Bean Zone, featuring the latest equipment available to coffee roasters and the smartest technology out there today.

GOLDEN BEAN AWARDS GO WILD

On average, we reward about one out of every four entries with medals, and we give feedback straight after judging.

Awards Night, held directly after the event, is a way for everyone to cheer on the winners, and the theme this year is “Medieval!” So let your hair go wild, put on your best “Game of Thrones” inspired outfit, and come have fun with the Golden bean team.

Steve Cuevas of Black Oak Coffee Roasters—2017 Golden Bean overall winner.

I am very proud of the Golden Bean team and for the achievements and growth of the competition. I invite all roasters to get involved and make some time to grow your knowledge base and participate in judging at the competition in Portland, Oregon. If you can’t attend, I urge you to enter your coffee.

But most of all, we would like to see you there. Who will win Golden Bean 2018?

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