Who’s the best barista in BTP?

Our barista teams are, in the main, geeks. They obsess over coffee – the bean, the roast, the pour. They practise their latte art for hour after hour. And they compete to prove that they’re the best barista in their coffee shop, in their city, and in the country.

So, with the advent of the annual Boston Tea Party Barista Competition last September, things got pretty heated.

Ready, Steady, Pour!

With aprons on and milk jugs at the ready, our baristas set about proving their skills over three different disciplines…

Cupping

This isn’t as weird or physically invasive as it sounds, but the coffee equivalent of wine tasting. In this case, the baristas’ cupping ability was judged by a taste-the-odd-one-out competition.

Latte Art

A knockout tournament in which our baristas pour their best latte art. The subjects they had to interpret were pulled from a hat, so they needed a wide range of skills in pouring and a steady hand under pressure.

UKBC

The pinnacle of the Barista Competition, in which each contestant has to make four espressos, four cappuccinos, and four of their “signature” drinks, for four judges to taste and rate. Meanwhile, two technical judges watch their machine work, while one Head Judge presides. It’s tense, thorough and sadistic fun for all those that enter.

All in all, it was one of the most rewarding days I’ve had. As BTP’s Head of Drinks I felt a real sense of pride as my barista team surpassed all expectations. They demonstrated incredible knowledge, skills and ability under pressure, in front of their friends and colleagues.

The UK’s Best Barista?

Two of the top baristas on the day were then put forward for the Southern Heat of the UK Barista Competition. James (from our Exeter branch) and Jimmy (from Bristol’s Gloucester Road branch) worked their socks off in the weeks prior to the event, refining their presentations and practising with Sam Dunford at Extract HQ, all in addition to their work responsibilities.

Having competed previously, I know how nerve-racking the day can be. And although this time I was only there in a managerial role I wasn’t any more relaxed. In the end, James and Jimmy both held their nerve and did us proud in the Southern Heat, finishing 10th and 6th respectively.

In March, the top 20 ranked baristas in the country are competing in the UK Barista Championship finals in Glasgow. Nerves will be shredded all over again. Wish us luck.