UNITED KINGDOM 24th June 2010

SCAE Past President and former executive director Patrick Bewley in late June received the Association's highest Award, for Lifetime Achievement, as part of the Awards for Coffee Excellence presented during the SCAE Event at Caffè Culture in London.

Patrick, who ran the largest Irish coffee roasting company Bewleys for many years, was also a pioneer member of the the SCAE and led several trips to origin along with handling a number of other Association projects. (Pictured is Patrick Bewley receiving the Award; photo by Charles Prager).

The annual Awards, nominated by SCAE members and chosen by an international panel, were presented at a special awards evening that took place at London's ancient and atmospheric Crypt of St Etheldreda's, built in the 12th century.

About a hundred guests were on hand for the Awards, which were introduced by President Nils Erichsen and sponsored by Bunn.

The Association chose Heili Politanov, of roaster/retailer Gourmet Coffee of Estonia as Young Entrepreneur for 2010.

James Hoffman, WBC Champion, well known coffee commentator and co-founder of London-based Square Mile Coffee Roasters, received the award for Inventive Communicator.

The Award for Outstanding Producer went to Lorie Obra of Rusty's Hawaiian, a highly lauded grower on her own small farm in the Ka'u region of the Big Island of Hawaii.

The evening also included recognition to retiring SCAE Board Members Dr Steffen Schwarz, Hugh Gilmartin and Joseph Smith. Membership and Chapter Development Chair Pauline Sherwood also presented the SCAE's National Coordinator of the Year award, to the Association's Swiss National Coordinator, Heinz Trachsel.

You can see the nomination notes for each Awards for Coffee Excellence winner here, and all of the previous winners are listed here.