BRISTOL, UK – One of the world’s most prestigious coffee making competitions will take place in Bristol next month as part of the two-day coffee festival.
Espressofest will be held at the Passenger Shed at Temple Meads (PICTURE), where the 16 highest placed competitors from the UK Barista Championship (UKBC) heats will compete in the semi-finals on Saturday, August 19.
The six highest scoring baristas will then battle it out on Sunday, August 20, when the winner will be crowned the United Kingdom Barista Champion 2017 and will go on to represent the UK in the World Barista Championships in November in Seoul, South Korea.
The 2017 United Kingdom Barista Championship journey started in February in Bristol and has seen more than 50 of the UK’s finest baristas competing to represent the UK at the World Barista Championships.
The baristas each prepare four espressos, four milk drinks, and four original signature drinks to exacting standards in a 15-minute performance set to music.
All drinks are scored on taste by four judges and the baristas are evaluated by a technical judge. A head judge overviews the proceedings to ensure consistency and fairness.
The Espressofest festival will feature panel discussions and content provided by the world renown Tamper Tantrum, plus a wide range of educational content curated by Specialty Coffee Association UK board member Ben Townsend and supported by the London School of Coffee, Mercanta and the Barista Guild Of Europe in conjunctions with the UKBC sponsors.
SCAE UK Events Co-Ordinator Mat North, who also runs top Bristol coffee shop Full Court Press in Broad Street, said: “The UKBC has driven the changes in coffee in the UK over the past decade or so and it’s these championships are the pinnacle of coffee making.
“This is s a chance for people in Bristol to see the best baristas in the UK making the most perfect coffees.
“We have built the Espressofest festival around the competition and there will be at least two stands serving coffee, plus espresso ice creams, educational talks and a seminar room
“However much you like coffee, or even if you don’t, it’s a chance to learn about it and or learn even more about it, and taste some great coffee at the same time.”
When is it? Saturday, August 19 and Sunday, August 20
Where is it? Passenger Shed at Temple Meads
How much are tickets?
Tickets are available from www.espressofest.com and cost £6 each, which covers both days. All proceeds from the sale of the tickets will be donated to a charity chosen by the 2017 UKBC Winner.
