NETHERLANDS 1 June 2011

For the first time, multiple Dutch coffee championships took place during the second edition of the Experience Coffee/Experience Tea trade fair in Utrecht in mid-May, resulting in four new Dutch coffee champions of whom the Dutch chapter can be proud, National Coordinator Annemarie Tiemes reports.

At the same event, the chapter's new logo and name were also launched--or to put it into the words of chairman Jeroen Veldkamp: “During the Dutch Barista championship last year we, SCAE The Netherlands and Dutch Coffee Promotion, became engaged. This year we got married and will now go on further under one name. SCAE The Netherlands will try to organise many spectacular events and promote speciality coffee even more.”

The Dutch Latte Art and the Cup Tasters championships took place in the theatre during the trade fair and both were very well attended. The participants benefited from the stimulation of having around 400 spectators!
 

The Slow Coffee and Aeropress championships took place in the large brew bar, where the public could follow the participants closely and taste the coffee that was presented to the judges afterwards.
 
The collaboration with Belgium was unique during this edition. The two countries organised the Slow Coffee Championship together, so we could crown two champions this year.

In Maastricht later this month, Esther Maasdam will represent the Netherlands and participate in the World Latte Art championship, Sander Reuderink in the World Cup Tasters championship and Frans Taapken in the new Brewers Cup championship.


With Kiona Malinka for Cezve/Ibrik, Richard Zijlstra for Coffee in Good Spirits and Yakup Aydin for the WBC, we now have a complete team, and for the first time in history we have a chance to go for the Nations Cup!

Pictured is 2011 Dutch Latte Art Champion Esther Maasdam shows her appreciation for her well deserved trophy!