SCAE AT CAFFE CULTURE SHOW, OLYMPIA, LONDON, A SELL OUT!

Every exhibitor stand taken, wall to wall visitors and a stunning theatre location for the SCAE sets a standard which would be hard to beat!

The brain child of UK National Coordinator, Steve Penk and Upper Street Events Director, Elliot Gard, the theatre was packed daily for our new competitions, Latte Art, Coffee in Good Spirits and Cup Tasting.

It was a pleasure to welcome Mr. Soeren Stiller Markusson, NC for Denmark and their National Barista Champion, both as a demonstrator for latte art ~ he was second in the World Latte Art Championships last year ~ and as a judge for the competitions. Also joining our UK Judges Team was Mr. Christopher Salierno of La Cimbali, Italy.

Sponsoring the Latte Art Championship was Cravendale with Paul Meikle Janney giving a lecture updating the development work going on in the company's research laboratories to establish the optimum product for baristi use.

Mr. Philip Gervaux of Origin Coffee, Cornwall was the worthy winner.

A very closely contested competition saw Miss Emma Chapman of The Bottle Kiln, Derbyshire crowned our new Coffee in Good Spirits Champion, her certificate presented by Mr. Andrew Tucker of San Remo who provided the espresso machines ~ much admired by all contestants!

The Cup Tasting Championship drew a maximum crowd and our six contestants battled with some difficult tasting options set up by John Sherwood, using superb coffees roasted by the Has Bean Coffee Company and equipment organised by Mr. Keith Collins of the Bunn O Matic Corporation.

And like all serious baristi, Mr. James Hoffman of Square Mile Coffee and current World Barista Champion, proved he knows his origins by coming out on top! However, it has to be said Mr. Guy Wilmot of Blue Mountain Coffee (Europe) Ltd., who has only been in the coffee business for a year, got the same number right but James was quicker.

Over in the workshop complex experts from all aspects of the trade drew a large number of participants, some disciplines completely sold out. It is clear that there is a real hunger for knowledge and from the comments made it is gratifying to note that the SCAE education programmes are leading the way in publicising the latest techniques and equipment.

Pauline Sherwood.