Talented baristas from BaxterStorey have been battling it out to be crowned Barista Champion 2016 in the company’s annual competition.
Following a series of hotly contested regional heats in the UK and Brussels, 16 competitors went head to head in the semi-finals, with the final declaring Amanda Lo (pictured centre) as this year’s top barista.
BaxterStorey’s Barista Championships create a competitive spirit among the company’s baristas, sharpening their coffee-making skills to surpass high street competitors in both service and product delivery.
Tim Sturk, Head of Coffee Training and Development at BaxterStorey, said, “Our competition is about many things. It showcases talent, increases sales and improves quality, consistency and overall standards; but most of all it celebrates passion and enthusiasm.
'We upskill our teams and do not allow ourselves to be pigeon-holed into the historical perceptions of the foodservice market. When baristas take pride in their products, the customer always wins because they get to experience that passion in every cup.”
Amanda Lo won the title after showcasing her latte art skills, creating an impressive signature virgin Irish coffee combining Asian red dates, cascara, brown sugar and double cream. The Barista Champion also had to perform a 10-minute routine which involved making six hot beverages against the clock. Lo will now go on to represent BaxterStorey in the industry-wide UK Barista Championships 2017.
Sturk added, “Amanda impressed the judges with her passion, attention to detail, professionalism and creative signature beverage. She has completed Level 1 of our Barista Academy and is a shining example of how we strive to constantly develop our employees, which we believe makes us stand out within the industry.”
Dan Lacey, Barista Championship Judge and Head of Training and Development at Extract Coffee, said, “When a barista is competing in front of an audience, they are naturally very nervous and it is easy for those nerves to be on show. But Amanda’s performance felt as though she was inviting you into her house to share her coffee with you. That is true hospitality. She was incredibly natural and had excellent attention to detail.”
Stewart Johnson, Judge and Channel Sales Controller at Matthew Algie, said, “Amanda was a deserving winner in a closely fought contest. The passion and enthusiasm from everyone involved has been unbelievable. It is great to see a hospitality provider that takes coffee so seriously. Others are trying but BaxterStorey is probably five years ahead of its competitors. This is a testament to the hard work from everyone at the company.”
BaxterStorey’s Cindy Nicolas achieved second place in the competition and joint third went to Alin Laurentiu and Arthur Cox. Sophie Rowan also won the ‘Latte Art Champion’ title for her impressive, artistic coffee skills.