Portland Wins 2013 NW Barista Competition

Portland rules, Seattle drools.

Even if you don't give a toss about the Sounders-Timbers rivalry (and we don't [Speak for yourself! -Ed.]), there's still a cheap thrill to be had every time Portland beats Seattle in another competitive arena of physical prowess: making coffee. 

Portland dominated at last year's Northwest Regional Barista Competition in Tacoma, while Seattle baristas barely showed up to compete. But with this year's battle actually taking place in the birthplace of the Venti Caramel Frappuccino this past weekend, would Seattle finally serve up a steaming cup of victory...?

No. For the second year in a row, the competition was won by Portland barista Devin Chapman of Coava Coffee, who also took out fourth place in last year's national championships

For more details, we turn to an eyewitness account from "coffee tabloid" Sprudge (which also deserves props for the amazing headline "Ooh, Devin Is A Place On Earth"):

In what may be some consolation to our Northern neighbors, second place was won by Seattle barista Cole McBride. Third place went to Collin Schneider of Portland's Sterling Coffee Roasters

Also representing for PDX were baristas from Albina Press, Barista, Case Study, Crema and Public Domain.

In less thrilling news, for the first time in the competition's history (a competition that has only been going for three years, but still), Portland did not win the simultaneously run Northwest Brewers Cup, which was taken out by, yes, a Seattle barista. Chapman also won this contest in 2012 and 2011, but did not compete this year. 

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