Hotelympia to reveal UK’s best cup of coffee

12th February 2008, 3:32pm

Top 24 baristas will be battling it out at Hotelympia next week to win the top award of UK National Champion.

The winner of the final will represent the UK in the World Barista Championships in Copenhagen in June.

At the UK final, each competitor wills serve the four judges a single espresso, a cappuccino and a signature beverage of their own creation. This must be an espresso based drink which is alcohol free and allows the competitors to show their creative flair.

The judging criteria are based on four aspects; taste, beverage presentation, personal presentation and barista technique.

Steve Penk, co-ordinator of the UK Championships, explained the importance of a Barista: "The skill of a Barista is crucial to the quality of the coffee experience for the consumer. Whether it is as a simple espresso or a more exotic coffee based drink such as a cappuccino, the characteristic of the final drink lies purely in the skill of the Barista."

Last year's winner was James Hoffmann, who became World Barista Champion after competing in the finals held in Tokyo, Japan.

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