Inside the Barista Battle for the Best Coffee at Sea Otter

As an athlete sidelined by injury, I wasn’t able to race at Sea Otter this year, but I did notice that, in addition to bike racing, there is another very serious competition going on at the Laguna Seca Raceway in mid-April.

Sure, the Sea Otter Classic has become synonymous with the beginning of cycling season in the United States. Tens of thousands of athletes and cycling fans show up to stroll around the infield of the Laguna Seca Raceway catching up with old friends, scoping out new products, and testing their fitness in an array of races.

Both pros and amateurs flock to the races to jockey for position while eyeing the top step of the podium. And while the racing takes center stage for some, hidden under the E-Z Up tents and canopies, there’s a bigger competition brewing.

Coffee Enduro

As I walked around the venue, the grinding of coffee beans was very much a part of the cacophony of the clicking of freehubs, indistinguishable chatter of cycling enthusiasts, and jumble of music. At times, the air felt thick with the aromatic smell of freshly ground beans being tamped down into perfectly weighed espresso pucks.

Clearly, the chill from the early morning fog could only be remedied by an artisanally-roasted cappuccino poured by a Gravel Pro.

It was then that I had a revelation (and sure, you can say I was under the influence of said caffeinated beverages): the most important competition at Sea Otter was not on the bike but rather in paper cups filled with the perfectly-brewed elixir that fuels us for long hours in the saddle.

From Specialized to Continental Tires to Shimano, over a dozen booths lured cold and weary festival-goers with a much-needed caffeine boost. Some companies, like Castelli, emphasized quality over quantity, bringing a custom-made La Spaziale Espresso Machine to serve co-branded Thump x Castelli Storm King beans.

Others, like POC and Canyon, offered delicate and delicious locally-made Belgian Liège waffles to compliment their lattes. Still more, including Orange Seal, advertised Coffee with a Pro to entice people into their pop-up cafes.

As Caitlin Bernstein, my teammate also recovering from surgery, and I ventured from booth to booth, ranking coffees, scrutinizing latte art, and eyeing which espresso machine each brand chose to use, we joked that Sea Otter had become a coffee festival with a bike problem. Maybe it was because we were extremely over-caffeinated by the end of our Sea Otter experience, or maybe it was because the idea of competition sparked our inner athlete, but the competition became real and we buzzed around the venue with eyes wide open.

The emphasis became less on what was in the booth and more on what coffee each brand offered.

The race for the top five was tight. We set high expectations and judged coffee based on multiple criteria: taste, latte art, originality, and aesthetic, to name a few. The bar was high as we all know being a cyclist automatically makes you an espresso expert. And while direct comparison was difficult, each brand brought a unique coffee tasting experience worth noting.

Here are our top 5:

1. Castelli

Keeping with their Italian roots, Castelli’s espresso pop-up was the classiest. With their custom-made La Spaziale Espresso Machine and collab Thump Coffee x Castelli Storm King Beans, Castelli made their presence known. They even went so far as to create custom Storm King Coffee bags that matched the employee hats and musettes that were gifted to their athletes.

Castelli’s booth, with their recent release of the Espresso line, was on point and brought true Italian cafe vibes. The tasting notes of the Storm King Beans suggest berry sweetness, deep chocolate, and velvet body. And I would agree their cappuccino was smooth and vibrant.

We were lucky to witness a celebrity barista, Rob Britton, pulling shots. But quite frankly, his latte art left something to be desired.

Cappuccino & Aesthetics: 8.2/10 | Latte Art: 5.9

2. POC

The battle for second was heated and came down to one thing: waffles. This is not confirmed, but we feel there may have been some collaboration between POC and Canyon. Both served Monterey local Captain + Stoker beans paired with Belgian Liege Waffles from L’aubette Bakery in downtown Monterey.

Captain + Stoker is a Monterey staple and if you didn’t want to stand in line at 7 am at their Franklin Avenue location, their presence at Sea Otter was a welcome treat. Friday morning was cold and foggy, and as we stood in the feed zone of the Fuego XL, the Captain + Stoker cappuccino warmed my soul. It tasted fresh with subtle hints of burnt caramel and vanilla. I let out an audible ‘mmmmmm’ as soon as the frothy milk kissed my lips. It was the perfect compliment to the Blueberry Belgian Liege Waffle with Meyer lemon drizzle.

But here’s where POC separated itself from Canyon: while the coffee at all booths was complimentary, Canyon charged for waffles. POC did not.

Cappuccino: 7.9/10 | Waffle: 9.99/10

3. Canyon Bicycles

Canyon did not hold back. They brought the true Captain + Stoker experience to Sea Otter. With their Synesso S-200 espresso machine, it was a full production in the Canyon booth, complete with professional baristas expertly concocting beautiful drinks. Not to mention, they produced the best Latte Art of the weekend, with a tasteful heart that floated delicately in the foam.

The espresso was delicious (see above), and as Captain + Stoker describe their The Captain espresso blend, it’s “the crowd pleaser.” But the waffles weren’t free and that was the tiebreaker.

Iced Latte: 7.78/10 | Cappuccino with Latte Art: 8.1/10 | Waffle: 9.99/10

4. Velocio

Velocio brought the creativity. Compared to some of their coffee competitors, their booth was simple and unassuming. Minimalistic and aesthetically pleasing, just like their clothing.

 

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Their coffee vibes matched their product line, and they knew how to draw people in. Saturday afternoon Velocio served affogatos with their athletes. Who doesn’t like smooth, creamy vanilla ice cream drizzled and warm espresso? Aesthetics, execution, crowd appeal. Velocio knows how to turn heads.

While I may have missed the true coffee experience from Goodhart Coffee by not having a cappuccino, I can’t help but approve of their style.

Affogato : 7.7/10 | Aesthetics 8.5/10

5. Smith

Smith is a brand that prides itself on design and it’s no wonder they chose a coffee route that highlighted their Portland energy. Compared to the other booths we sampled, Smith was the only one to choose the cold brew route, serving Portland-based Stumptown Coffee out of a cold brew keg.

While maybe this was marketing guy Jeremy Dunn’s plan to get everyone over-caffeinated and hyped about Smith’s new Trail Camo setup, which matched the Trail Camo cups, it succeeded in keeping me energized through the Sea Otter after-parties.

Cold Brew: 7.3/10 | Trail Camo 8.3/10

The bond between cycling and coffee culture runs deep, intertwining two passions into a seamless experience.

As I reflect on Sea Otter Classic 2024, where coffee unexpectedly stole the spotlight, I envision an exciting addition for next year: the 2025 Sea Otter Cyclist/Barista Challenge. This official competition would celebrate the fusion of athleticism and artistry and pose intriguing questions like, “Which athlete can pull the best shot? Who can create the best latte art?”

Who’s in for next year?

While my original intention in attending Sea Otter was to race my Cervelo mountain bike and gravel bike, it was fun to meander around the expo searching for the best cup of coffee. There’s the saying: ‘you can take the girl out of the competition, but you can’t take the competition out of the girl.’ I’m a competitor at heart; I think this means I need to step up my latte art game before next year.