Green Earth Roasters Picked For Best Coffeehouse Contest

A Lake Forest coffee shop is among 20 in the running to be named America's Best Coffeehouse on the West Coast.

, one of six California coffee shops in the inaugural competition, is the only Orange County semifinalist.

"This is a great opportunity for us," said Tim Higgins, founder of the Lake Forest-based business. "We're fortunate to be selected." 

The cafe, at 20025 Lake Forest Drive, has been in business for about two years.

The semifinal stage is a prelude to Coffee Fest, a September trade show in Seattle at which the top coffee shop on the West Coast will be selected by 30 judges.

Through Sept. 4, fan voting and secret shoppers will narrow the field to the eight coffee shops that will be invited to compete at the September event.

• Click here to vote for Lake Forest's Green Earth Coffee Roasters.

Green Earth made it into the semifinalist round by submitting a video highlighting the cafe's strengths. (Look to the right of this story to watch the video they submitted.)

In Seattle, competing cafes will battle to impress judges with a series of drinks concocted on site.

The contest winner will take home $2,500 and an America's Best Coffeehouse Competition trophy. Second place will earn $1,000; third, $500.

Higgins said he is optimistic about the cafe's chances because it's one of three cafes in the competition that roast their own beans, rather than purchase them from a distributor.

"The word on the street is that they're going to select a roaster because it's tougher to roast your own than buy, so I think we have a pretty good shot at being top five," he said.

The Lake Forest cafe has had a "great response" from customers since opening its doors, Higgins said. He plans to expand his business in the coming years. 

"Our goal is to feature quality and to really create a brand," he said.

Customers of Green Earth tend to be enthusiastic, educated and influential, he said.

"They're people who will drive a little out of their way for quality," he said.

Eventually, Higgins plans to open a total of five retail stores throughout Orange County.