Gwilym Davies, an independent barista running coffee carts in central London, will represent the UK in the
World Barista Championships next month after winning the country's speciality coffee competition.
Davies outperformed 24 other semi-finalists during the three-day competition, sponsored by
SanRemo, and was crowned UK Barista Champion (UKBC) at the
ScotHot exhibition in Glasgow earlier this month.
Each competitor had 15 minutes to make four cappuccinos, four espressos and four of their own "signature" drinks. As well as the flavour and texture of the drinks, the baristi were judged on presentation, professionalism, attention to detail and knowledge of their chosen coffee's provenance.
Davies's winning signature drink was a 50/50 blend of a Finca San Jose pulped natural red catuai from Erwin Mierisch and family in Nicaragua, and an El Molino de Santa Rita washed orange bourbon from the Jose Antonio Salaverrias farm in El Salvador. He used melted unsalted butter, grated orange zest, vahlrona chocolate, muscavado syrup and ground cinnamon to bring out the characteristics of the coffee.
Davies said: "The win has been the result of working so long in the industry and my love of coffee. But it isn't really about me, it's about all the people in the chain - I've simply tried to do justice to the coffee and today's coffee equipment.