Are You Britain's Best Barista? (15/01/2013)
We are very excited that the UK Barista Championships (UKBC) will return to the festival in April for the second year running.
In 2012 we watched as Maxwell Colonna-Dashwood was crowned winner of the UKBC after beating more than 70 entrants and 20 semi-finalists to claim the prestigious title.
Online registration to compete is now live!
There will be four regional heats taking place across the country between 06 February and 30 March, with the top 20 qualifying for the Semi Finals and Finals taking place at the festival.
So if you share a passion for coffee and think you’ve got what it takes to become the UK’s best barista, make sure you sign up to compete today.
The Regional Heats will take place on the following dates:
Regional Heat 1 - 06/07 February 2013
Expowest Westcountry - Exeter
Regional Heat 2 - 15/16 February 2013
Pumphreys Coffee - Newcastle
Regional Heat 3 - 5/6 March 2013
Butterworth & Son - Bury St Edmunds
Regional Heat 4 - 30Mar-01Apr 2013
Chester Food and Drink Festival – Chester
The UKBC is considered the hardest of the Speciality Coffee Association of Europe (SCEA) competitions testing a barista’s coffee knowledge, presentation, preparation and all round ability.
Be sure to check out our UKBC highlight video to get a glimpse of the action!
Straight from the [Champion]'s Mouth (14/11/2012)
After winning the UK Barista Championships 2012, hosted at the London Coffee Festival, Maxwell Colonna-Dashwood then represented his country at the World Championships, hosted in Vienna. The barista sensation caught up with UK Coffee Week Programme Manager Hannah-Polly Williams to show his support for UK Coffee Week and Project Waterfall.
Congratulations for your amazing achievements in London and Vienna. You must be so pleased?
Absolutely, they are wonderful events to be part of and it is very rewarding for myself and those who support me. These competitions are very valuable for the speciality coffee-scene.
You support UK Coffee Week. Why are you involved with the programme?
The complex chain that results in a fantastic cup of coffee starts with growers in producing countries. There is valuable work taking place but much more needs to be done. UK Coffee Week is playing an important role in striving to continue improving conditions at the origin.
Your coffee shop Colonna and Smalls also supports UK Coffee Week. Are you running any special events or competitions for 2013?
In 2013 we will be organising a raffle with a ticket for everyone who donates to the UK Coffee Week cause. The winner will receive a free tasting course for themselves and two others!
Sounds brilliant! Where can people find out more information?
Check out our Twitter page, @Colonna_Smalls or better still, pop in and see us.
Tickets are now on sale for The London Coffee Festival 2013! (12/11/2012)
Join us once again on 25-28 April at the Old Truman Brewery to celebrate London’s vibrant coffee and gourmet food scene.
With the last festival sold out and more than 11,700 coffee, tea and food lovers attending, tickets are sure to sell fast for this event. Book now to secure your place.
A special Early Bird rate of just £8 per ticket will be available until 31 January, making tickets to The London Coffee Festival a perfect Christmas gift idea for your loved ones.
At the festival you'll be able to watch world-class Barista demonstrations, test drive the latest coffee machines and gadgets, listen to talented new music artists, discover new flavours and learn the secrets of how to make the perfect brew!
Lots of exciting news and new festival features will be announced shortly so watch this space!
The Votes are in! Visitors of The London Coffee Festival 2012 vote for their favourite stands (07/06/2012)
The votes are in! Visitors of The London Coffee Festival 2012 vote for their favourite stands
This year the visitors of The London Coffee Festival, which attracted more than 11,700 attendees at the end of April, were asked to vote for their favourite stands in a post-event survey.
The survey saw 1200 people taking part, voting on categories from favourite coffee experience, favourite stand design to most innovative product.
La Marzocco took home two awards for The True Artisan Café, a pop-up coffee shop concept which saw 18 of the best coffee shops and roasteries take part serving artisan coffees to visitors whilst raising money for Project Waterfall (the events chosen charity partner). The feature was voted both the Favourite Key Feature of the festival as well awarded Best Stand Design overall.
The Ultimate Coffee Experience was scooped up by Union Hand-Roasted who hosted the Roastery on Tour, with live coffee roasting demonstrations and a speciality brew bar across the three-day festival.
The Most Engaging Coffee Experience award went to United Coffee with the Make Decent Coffee Lounge that hosted one-to-one tutorials on how to make decent coffee at home (using methods such as the V60, Aeropress and French-press).
The Ultimate Tea Experience award went to Tea Pigs, who also hosted a Matcha master-class as part of The Lab programme. The Best Artisan Stall was awarded to Vivianne’s and the Best Street Food Stall was jointly awarded to Herman Ze German and Arancini Brothers who both scored the same percentage of votes.
Keep Cup was also awarded the most innovative product at the festival with the first barista-standard re-usable cup.
Allegra Events, organisers of The London Coffee Festival would also like to give a special mention La Cimbali and Grumpy Mule who scored high across all categories, placing runner-up or third in most awards due to their outstanding contribution to the festival.
Full list of award winners:
Favourite Key Feature at The London Coffee Festival 2012
Winner: La Marzocco / The True Artisan Café
The Ultimate Coffee Experience
Winner: Union-Hand Roasted / Roastery on Tour
Most Engaging Stand Experience
Winner: United Coffee/ Make Decent Coffee
Favourite Stand Design
Winner: La Marzocco/ The True Artisan Café
The Ultimate Tea Experience
Winner: Tea Pigs
Favourite Artisan Market Stall
Winner: Viviane's
Favourite Street Food Market Stall
Winner: Herman Ze German
Winner: Arancini Brothers
Most Innovative Product at the event
Winner: Keep Cup
The Lab Programme Announced! (16/04/2012)
Ever wondered how music, colour and light can influence your coffee experience? How to make a good brew at home or what the history of coffee is? Find out at The Lab!
The Lab stage, located between the Soho and Shoreditch themed zones, will host an exciting programme of live interactive demonstrations, workshops, talks, theatre and debates throughout the Festival.
And to whet your appetite, here is a little taster of some of The Lab programme highlights not to be missed this year…
The Big Ethical Debate!
The Sensory Experience Sessions
Coffee: A Condensed History – Parts 1 & 2
La Cimbali’s Home Brewing Workshop
Music, Colour and Coffee – The influence of atmospherics on coffee perception – James Gater’s Sensory Workshop
Kokoa Collection Hot Chocolate – Single Origin Chocolate Tasting Workshop
For full highlights visit www.londoncoffeefestival.com/thelab.aspx
Amazing Time Out Competition Goes Live! (12/04/2012)
Win the ultimate coffee experience with The London Coffee Festival
To celebrate the return of The London Coffee Festival on April 27-29 at the Old Truman Brewery, we’re giving away the ultimate coffee-lover’s prize.
You could win two premium Saturday tickets to The London Coffee Festival, an espresso machine and grinder by La Cimbali, plus a night and dinner for two at Gordon Ramsay’s townhouse and dining room, York & Albany.
The London Coffee Festival 2012 returns with gourmet coffee and fantastic food samples galore, demonstrations from world-class baristas and a comprehensive lab programme that will educate even the most knowledgeable coffee connoisseur. Above all of that, the lucky prize winner and guest will be welcomed by coffee experts DunneFrankowski at La Cimbali’s Sensory Session area for a one-to-one espresso workshop on your brand new Dafne espresso machine. For more information on The London Coffee Festival visit www.londoncoffeefestival.com.
After all the fun of The London Coffee Festival, you will end the day in style with a mouth-watering dinner for two followed by a night of luxury in a deluxe room at Gordon Ramsay’s townhouse and dining room, York & Albany.
Nestled between the buzz of Camden and the tranquillity of Regent’s Park, York & Albany is a townhouse with food at its heart. The dining room and bar offers a relaxed all day dining experience.
To win this fantastic coffee-lover's prize simply visit: http://www.timeout.com/competition/coffeefestival/
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