Coffee Masters News, News

Our Coffee Masters NYC Judges and Emcees announced


We recruited the best of the best Coffee Masters judges and MCs to join us at The New York Coffee Festival 2022. Comprising legendary names from the world of specialty coffee, we are delighted to announce…

Anne Lunell – Head Judge

Coffee Masters Head Judge Anne Lunell is a Swedish Barista Champion, Brewers Cup Champion and the visionary behind Koppi, an internationally respected and well-loved coffee roaster in the Swedish town of Helsingborg, which she founded in 2007 with Charles Nystrand. Having been Head Judge of Coffee Masters – New York and London since their inception, there’s no one more up to scratch on what it takes to be a Coffee Masters champion.

Michelle Johnson

Michelle Johnson has been in the coffee industry for 10 years, moving from barista, manager, and competitor to coffee writer, public speaker, and thought leader. She created The Chocolate Barista and currently works as the Marketing & Community Director at Barista Hustle in Melbourne, Australia.

David Donde

David’s Cape Town based cafe, Truth Coffee, has been named the best in the world by countless newspapers. He believes in results, individuality and playing on people’s strengths. The one thing he hates? Excuses.

Tymika Lawrence

Tymika fell into coffee rather accidentally eight years ago as a barista, and never looked back. Since then she’s been a cafe manager for Stumptown, a trainer,and wholesale account manager and educator for Counter Culture Coffee. Currently in green coffee sales for Genuine Origin, Tymika is just as passionate about people as she is about coffee. She currently serves on the SCA’s ED&I task force, and Sprudge’s inaugural advisory board.

Juan Carlos De la Torre

Carlos De la Torre is the founder of Cafe Avellaneda and co-founder of Cafe con Jiribilla a coffee shop and a roastery in Mexico City. During his profesional career he had achieved the 2012 Mexican Cup Tasting Championship, 2015 & 2016 Mexican Brewers Cup Championship, 2018 & 2019 Mexican Barista Championship and 2019 L.A. Coffee Masters. At the moment he invests the most of his time in Ratiorama a collaborative project promoting up-coming roasters, coffee shops and coffee professionals from the specialty coffee scene in Mexico in a monthly subscription format to build a closer community between consumers and professionals.

AND THE MC’S…

Lem Butler

Lem Butler Headshot

2016 USBC Champion and co-owner of Back Alley and Black & White Coffee Roasters, Lem Butler is joining the impressive line-up of MCs for the sixth time. He’s won the US Southeast Regional Barista Competition no fewer than five times.

Erika Vonie

Erika Vonie is a veteran of the specialty coffee industry and reigning Coffee Master – New York.  Recently appointed Director of Coffee at Trade, her near decade-long experience will come in handy in her first stint as MC.