Caffe Society of Leeds has made an early move to encourage catering-trade interest in 2010, the year the World Barista Championship comes to the UK.
The company, which is the British distributor of Brasilia espresso machines, is to run its own barista contest, some months before the ‘official’ UK championship. However, the Caffe Society/Brasilia event will not detract from the main event, but is planned to act as an encouragement to those who may not previously have considered themselves up to national competition standard.
From what little information is yet known, the contest will be a ‘relaxed and fun’ affair, aimed at the everyday barista in the catering trade, and will be an event which will allow them to underline their pride in doing a skilled job – and maybe encourage them to take part in the national contest, which in turn leads to the world event.
“Caffe Society, the sole importer for Brasilia, are to re-launch the original barista competition," said Caffe Society’s trade sales manager Clive Danby.
“Known previously as The Brasilia Barista of the Year competition, the Brasilia Barista Challenge 2009 will commence mid-October, and is being held in partnership with some of the biggest names, such as Lavazza, Beyond the Bean and Cravendale.”
His reference to the ‘original’ contest is a reminder that up to 2003, the previous importer of Brasilia espresso machines held a very well-regarded annual barista contest. This was a pioneer event, several years before the UK coffee trade got together to plan a concerted British effort for the world title – and, of course, British entrants then won the world title in 2007 and 2009, with the 2008 world contest won by a Dubliner working in London.
Caffe Society: 0845 4500500
By Ian Boughton