The Specialty Coffee Association of America (SCAA), the world's largest coffee trade association, hosts the Annual U.S. Cup Tasters Championship at its 25th Annual Exposition, April 11-14, 2013 in Boston, Massachusetts at the Boston Convention & Exhibition Center. Competitors from across the country compete to be crowned the national champion, who represents the United States at the World Cup Tasters Championship, in Melbourne, Australia May 23-26, 2013.   The 2013 U.S. Cup Tasters Championship Title Sponsor is Technivorm.

The U.S. Cup Tasters Championship educates and motivates the coffee cuppers of the world, recognizes their credibility and status as on par with sommeliers, and promotes the concept of quality coffee. Recognizing that different taste preferences are found in coffee cultures around the world, the U.S. Cup Tasters Championship does not ask contestants to judge or identify coffee. Instead, participants in the competition test their skills to discriminate between tastes in a “triangulation” format. Tasters receive eight sets of three-cups, or triangles, where two cups are identical and one is different. Competitors identify the one cup that is different, testing their ability to smell, taste, recall and concentrate on the task at hand against the clock. The competitor with the most correct answers in the shortest amount of time is the champion.

The competition begins with three-person qualifying heats. Scoring is kept in real time and displayed immediately for participants and spectators. The top six competitors move on to the semi-finals, where triangles increase in difficulty. The three high scorers become finalists. The overall winner takes the title of 2012 United States Cup Taster’s Champion and automatically qualifies for the World Cup Tasters Championship.

U.S. Cup Tasters Championship Schedule:

Thursday April 11th:  12:00 - 4:00 pm | Round One

Friday April 12th: 11:00 - 5:00 pm | Round Two

Sunday April 14th: 12:00 - 3:00 pm | Finals

The U.S. Cup Tasters Championship competitor entry fee is $50. Competitor registration will open on February 25th, 2013. For more information or to register for the U.S. Cup Tasters Championship, visit the SCAA Event web site at www.scaaevent.org.