The UK crowns new Latte Art, Coffee in Good Spirits and Cup Tasting Champions
7th February 2010
The Westcountry 2010 Catering Exhibition was host to many of the country's best baristas at the beginning of February, reports Paul Meikle-Janney, and also yielded three new coffee champions.
On Tuesday February 2, the Exhibition saw the UK Latte Art Championship and the UK Coffee in Good Spirits Championship take place. The SCAE UK Latte Art Championship challenged our top baristas to create wonderfully patterned cappuccinos and lattes just by the way the milk is poured into the rich crema of the coffee.
The winners on the day were, in first place, Neil Le Bihan of Exchange Coffee, Lewisham Market, London, (who also won the prize for the best individual "free pour" on the day; Marcin Drzewiecki from Elior UK, London, who came second; and, in third place, Lynsey Harley of The Drury Tea & Coffee Co, London.
Neil won the best "free pour" certificate with his hanging tulip, a swirling rossetta ending in a three leaf tulip (you can see pictures here). His signature pattern was a triple rosetta. Neil's customers at his market stall in Lewisham will now get to see him practising in order to be ready for the World Championships in London in June.
The SCAE UK Coffee in Good Spirits Championship was next on the day. Competitors had to produce two perfect Irish Coffees as well as a coffee cocktail of their own creation, using alcohol.
The winners of the Championship were: Edmund Buston (pictured right), of Clifton Coffee, Bristol (who came first); second place Richard Teasdale, from Coffee Aroma in Lincoln; and, in third place, Victor Frankowski, of Union Hand Roasted, London .
Edmund is no stranger to this competition, as he came second in the World Championship in Cologne in 2009. Edmund's cocktail creation was a Martini Potento, a heady mixture of espresso mixed with nutty Italian liquors, floated on top of triple sec and topped with cream and freshly grated chocolate (see pictures here).
On Thursday, February 4, the SCAE UK Cup Tasting Championship ended the coffee events at the Westcountry 2010 exhibition. In this contest, the UK's top coffee tasters had to distinguish the subtle flavour of many top quality coffees (this year supplied by Peter James Gourmet Coffee in Ross on Wye), and identify the odd one out in what are called "triangle tests".
The winners on the day were: Paul Stephens of Redroaster Coffee, Brighton, who came first; Jose Aguilar from Mercanta, Kingston-upon-Thames in second place; and in third place, David Faulkner of Extract Coffee in Bristol.
The results go to show the skills held by our gourmet artisan roasters such as Paul at Redroaster and David at Extract. Jose is also a worthy winner coming from Mercanta, one of the leading importers of the finest green beans.
The South West heat of the UK Barista Championship is always a tough heat but it was Jose Melium (of Jika Jika in Bath) that won through on the day. The Baristas had to produce four perfect espressos, four quality cappuccinos and four of their signature coffee creation for the judges. Jose won with his espresso made from a single origin washed coffee from Finca Los Altos, Nicaragua. This was then turned into his novel signature drink with the addition of an infusion of dried coffee cherries, molasses, a little spice and Venezuelan cocoa (see the pictures here).
All three of the UK Champions will join the winner of the final of the UK Barista Championship (to be held on March 1 at Hotelympia in London) to represent the UK at the SCAE World Championships in London, June 23-25.