INTERNATIONAL. Caffè Ritazza has concluded it’s fourth World Barista Championship, with eleven contenders from across the world competing at the final in Vienna. The Championship was the biggest so far, with baristas entering from every country in which Caffè Ritazza operates.
Caffè Ritazza International Operations Director Stuart Coombes said the competition was intended to provide inspiration to other Caffè Ritazza baristas across the globe, as well as recognising the skill of the participants.
He said: “The level of skill we saw at the competition was outstanding, and everyone had clearly put enormous effort into their preparation. We saw some truly creative approaches to the challenge of producing a signature drink, that really demonstrated the passion our baristas have for coffee.”
The competition is adjudicated to the standards of the Speciality Coffee Association of Europe, judging the participants against the same standards as the world’s most successful competitive baristas.
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The competition was judged by a panel of ‘leading names from the international coffee community’ |
The judging panel included Coombes as head judge; Nora Smahelova of Chapter One Coffee in Berlin as one of the sensory judges; and Coffee Community Managing Director Paul Meikle Janney and SSP Head of Training International Brands Chris Scott as technical judges.
A live video stream, Caffè Ritazza facebook updates and a Caffè Ritazza Twitter feed ensured contestants’ supporters worldwide could keep up-to-date with what was happening at the championship.
Louise Roessell from Denmark, who has worked for Caffè Ritazza at Copenhagen station for four years, won the competition. She impressed judges with faultless cappuccinos and espressos, as well as an original “˜signature drink’ of chilled espresso served with an elderflower, vanilla and lime sorbet and topped with a passion fruit sauce.
Roessell said “I wanted to create something refreshing, and I knew the flavours I’d chosen worked well together because I’d used them when making cakes.”
Second prize went to Kajsa Bysell from Sweden, while Tomas Bruckus from the UK Rail came third. Laura Timpany from UK Air took home a special prize sponsored by syrup-maker Monin for the best signature drink.
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Louise Roessell did not expect to win, and is clearly delighted to have been named Champion |
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