Espressofest aftermath!

This year for the first time we saw the UKBC taking place at Espressofest, a mini festival built around the Championships. It's aim was to bring coffee lovers and industry people together. With courses on sensory communication, home-brewing and seminars on why you should compete, the goal was to educate and appeal to a wider audience. And of course to watch the finals of the UKBC where we crowned Dale Harris of Hasbean Coffee as our 2017 UKBC champion.

Dale will go on to represent the UK at the Barista World Championships in Seoul this November, for now it's daily practise and prep till then! Second place went to Will Pitts of Sans Pere and third place was Paul Ross of Origin Coffee Roasters.

As well as traveling to Seoul as the UK champ Dale was given the £1300 raised by Espressofest to donate to a charity of his choosing. Dale chose World Coffee Research and here is his reasoning, "I thought for a few days about where EspressoFest proceeds should go - there is a long list of where the donation would make a difference - but it was important to me that it didn’t go somewhere relevant only to me, but somewhere connected to all the competitors, judges, and people who came off the street to find out a little more about coffee. We all spend a lot of time talking about sustainability and agronomic issues affecting the future of coffee, and World Coffee Research are doing something about it - their genuine scientific approach means it’s slower than social media and barista competition both tend to like, but I think long term their work with new varieties, focus on cup quality, and open access to the results of their work will influence the coffee we’re all drinking in a future full of challenges like climate change, an ageing farming population, and increased customer demand. " - Dale Harris. 

 

We would like to thank all of the judges who have given their time to help make the UKBC what it is - as without the hard work both during competition and between while calibrating there would be no competition. You have been amazing judges! Thank you and we look forward to seeing you all next year.  Thank you to our volunteers that dedicate a couple of days at a time to help coordinate and keep things moving we cannot do it without you either and would love to have you back at the events next time! 

 

We would also like to thank our sponsors who have been with us for the last three year period. They have provided machinery, grinders, brewing equipment, boilers and been on standby to fix, repair, move and clean any of their machines to help the competitions run smoothly. 

Thank you for all your support!

Thank you to the team behind Espressofest and the SCAUK we shall keep providing these events for all to attend and we look forward to seeing you next year!

 

Aloha!