Seidy Selivanow's 2025 US Barista Championship Journey
At the 2025 US Barista Championship in Raleigh, NC, Kafiex co-owner Seidy Selivanow placed 7th overall — just four points shy of the finals stage, in a field where Kay Cheon of Dune Coffee Roasters took the title and Isaiah Sheese of Archetype Coffee placed second (Sprudge). It's the second year running she's finished just outside the top six, after placing 8th in 2024 (Sprudge Twenty).
A score is one way to measure a competition. It's not the only one that matters here.
The Coffee: Sidra from Finca La Riviera
Seidy's routine featured a rare Sidra variety from Finca La Riviera in Risaralda, Colombia, cultivated by producer Julio Andres Quinceno at 1,705 meters above sea level. The lot was processed using an experimental double fermentation method combining yeast and nitrogen, producing a cup built around sweet grape, tangerine, and orange blossom (Kafiex Roasters).
Finca La Riviera has built a reputation among competition baristas well beyond this one routine — coffees from the farm have shown up on world-championship stages, including a runner-up finish at the 2023 World Barista Championship (Tin Coffee). Seidy's lot was roasted in-house at Kafiex and offered first to Coffee Club members before its public release. It's now available in limited quantities.
Building a Routine, and a Voice
Seidy doesn't compete by copying what's worked for others. Her routines are built around storytelling and sensory clarity, and in 2025 that meant leaning into her own background — competing with presentations that celebrate her Mexican heritage rather than following a generic competition template (iHeartRadio).
Her path here wasn't fast. She discovered barista competitions in 2019, won her first regional competition outright in 2021, and has spent the years since climbing the national ranks toward 2025's 7th-place finish (Coffee Fest).
Beyond Competition: Educator, Mentor, Connector
Competing is only part of what Seidy's known for. In 2025 alone, she:
-
Taught a sold-out Introduction to Cupping workshop at the Specialty Coffee Expo, one of the most in-demand sessions on the schedule (Specialty Coffee Expo)
-
Led four sessions at Coffee Fest Portland — including a Spanish-language panel on accessibility in specialty coffee and hands-on latte art and espresso training (Savor Brands)
-
Continued teaching Introduction to Cupping at World of Coffee events internationally
That body of work outside competition is a big part of why she was named to the 2026 Sprudge Twenty, which also credits her with mentoring the Mexican Roasting Champion ahead of the World Coffee Roasting Championship and speaking at the Women-Powered Coffee Summit in Chiapas, Mexico (Sprudge Twenty).
For Seidy, the stage and the classroom are increasingly the same project: getting more people — in English and in Spanish — genuinely excited about coffee.
Want to Taste the Coffee?
We consistently offer Seidy's competition coffees to Coffee Club members first, often before the public even knows what's coming. It's one of the ways Coffee Club connects members to the behind-the-scenes work that shapes Kafiex.
Frequently Asked Questions
How did Seidy Selivanow place at the 2025 US Barista Championship?
She placed 7th overall, four points from qualifying for the finals, in a competition won by Kay Cheon of Dune Coffee Roasters (Sprudge).
What coffee did she compete with?
A Sidra variety from Finca La Riviera in Risaralda, Colombia, grown by Julio Andres Quinceno and processed with an experimental yeast-and-nitrogen double fermentation (Kafiex Roasters).
Can I buy the competition coffee?
Yes, in limited quantities — it was offered first to Coffee Club members and is now available to the public.
Does Kafiex always give Coffee Club members early access to competition coffees?
Yes, this is a standing practice — competition lots are typically offered to Coffee Club members before public release.
Taste the coffee behind the competition. Shop the Finca La Riviera Sidra or join Coffee Club for early access to what's next.