Perfect Daily Grind’s Post

Where do you see the future of #coffee #competitions heading? "For many coffee professionals, #barista competitions represent the pinnacle of the specialty coffee industry, and many have built a career off the back of their competition success. In recent years, however, these competitions have slowly fallen out of favour, as #consumers decry rule changes, reject elitism, and embrace the influence of other mediums of “coffee fame.” - Coffee Intelligence To find out more, Ross H. speaks with Charlotte Corra about the evolution of coffee competitions and events like the SCA Expo and WoC, as well as how the prestige of competitions is shifting as new generations enter the coffee sector. https://lnkd.in/e6qApPcE

For many coffee professionals, #barista #competitions represent the pinnacle of the #specialtycoffee industry, and many have built a career off the back of their competition success. But as new generations enter the sector, the prestige is shifting. Ross H. speaks with Charlotte Corra about the evolution of competitions over time, how in recent years, SCA Expo and WoC events have seen a notably smaller audience for their competitions, and why that is. https://lnkd.in/egiWiT5P

As the #coffee competition circuit grows, #roasting championships are seemingly becoming more prominent – which is pushing more of a stripped back approach that favours pure skill over flair. Tomas Serra, an Authorized Specialty Coffee Association Trainer from Argentina, and I share some insights into how roasting championships are becoming more popular and the potential impact this could have on coffee competitions at large. https://lnkd.in/eG65pN2Z

Coffee aficionados and skeptics! Let's talk about the World Barista Championship – the battleground where beans meet brilliance! Now, I know what you're thinking. "Oh, here we go again, another debate about rules, judges, and who snagged the last bag of Gesha from Peru." Picture this: You're at a basketball game, right? Now, imagine if we judged slam dunk contests with the same severity as a nail-biter NBA showdown. Madness, right? It's like comparing apples to, well, coffee beans! Or expecting a pickup game to follow every technical rule in the NBA handbook. Let's be real, nobody's calling traveling in a friendly game of hoops. And let's not forget the Harlem Globetrotters, the OGs of hoop theatrics. They're not playing by the same rules as your local high school team – and that's perfectly fine! Variety is the spice of life, after all. So, back to the WBC. Sure, it's got its flaws. Judges' taste buds might have a mind of their own, and not every competitor has access to all the resources we would ideally want. But hey, that's how the cookie crumbles! Can the WBC improve? Absolutely! But let's not throw the French press out with the bathwater. This competition isn't just about brewing the perfect cup; it's about celebrating the craftsmanship and passion behind every latte art swirl and espresso shot. It's about showing the world that baristas aren't just button-pushers on coffee machines – they're scientists, and caffeine-fueled artists! So, let's raise our mugs to the WBC – where the only thing stronger than the coffee is the camaraderie. Cheers to brewing up a storm and proving that behind every great cup, there's a barista with skills worth savoring! #WBC #worldbaristachampionshiop #coffee #barista #competition #staycivil #civilcoffee

The World of Coffee 2024, a highly anticipated event in the coffee industry, is set to organise two distinctive national championships including ‘UAE National Barista Championship’ and the ‘UAE National Latte Art Championship’ targeting industry professionals. #worldofcoffee2024 #dubai #uae #menews247 #uaenews #middleeast #middleeastnews #gulfnews #menanews #arabnews #businessnews #technews #corporatenews

The World of Coffee 2024, a highly anticipated event in the coffee industry, is set to organise two distinctive national championships including ‘UAE National Barista Championship’ and the ‘UAE National Latte Art Championship’ targeting industry professionals. #worldofcoffee2024 #dubai #uae #menews247 #uaenews #middleeast #middleeastnews #gulfnews #menanews #arabnews #businessnews #technews #corporatenews

There is no denying the huge influence that competitions have over specialty coffee. Every year, major events – most notably the World Coffee Championships – take place in different countries and bring together some of the industry’s most skilled and talented professionals. This gives us a lot to celebrate about coffee competitions, particularly the extraordinary level of innovation and creativity they encourage. But that’s not to say that these events haven’t received their fair share of criticism over the past few years, too. Many point to the lack of inclusivity, diversity, and accessibility at high-level competitions, which can be a huge barrier to entry for some coffee professionals. And unfortunately, this tends to disproportionately affect certain demographics more, including those who work in producing countries. The International Coffee Organisation estimates that Latin America will account for more than half of global coffee production in the 2023-24 harvest season. Despite this, since 2015, less than ten Latin American roasters have participated in the world finals – a staggeringly small number compared to competitors from Global North countries. Without better representation of these communities at competitions and beyond, specialty coffee misses out on their wealth of knowledge. In today’s article, Emilio Bonnet speaks to Eduardo Choza, director of coffee at Mayorga Coffee and the 2024 US Coffee Roasting Champion, to understand why we need to see more Latin Americans taking part in coffee championships. 👉 https://lnkd.in/dDgnGhYY #PerfectDailyGrind #CoffeeCompetitions #RoastingCompetitions Photo credit: Mayorga Coffee

WHAT IT MEANS TO WIN AT THE London Competitions? North Uist Distillery | Certified B-Corp that won the 2023 London Spirits Competition with its award-winning Downpour Gin from Scotland share a few insights with our team. Downpour Scottish Dry Gin, from the North Uist Distillery Company in the Outer Hebrides of Scotland, was the highest scoring spirits brand with 98 points in the 2023 London Spirits Competition. Here’s what it meant to the distillery owners Kate MacDonald and Jonny Ingledew: “Being a gold medal winner at the London Spirits Competition has had a significant impact on our sales. One of our business goals for the year was to gain more traction in the on-trade. Recognition from London Spirits Competition has acted as a seal of approval in this respect as the competition is judged by some of the world’s leading figures from the hospitality sector. Not only this, judging is undertaken with the end consumer in mind, so you know the judges can genuinely see a space for your products.” “Often it is difficult to identify a tangible link between awards success and specific listings, however, I can point to several new partnerships as a direct result of our London Spirits Competition medals. This includes a listing with a high-end UK-wide department store whose buyer was on the judging panel. This also includes the opening up of a new export market after we were approached by an importer who had seen coverage of our success.” “This is no coincidence. The LSC team did a superb job of promoting the competition and providing a platform for the medal winners. We have won top medals in other competitions and it was a flash in the pan, whereas LSC has sustained the coverage throughout the year. We really appreciate it – thank you!” #brandsuccess #globalrecognition #brandstory North Uist Distillery | Certified B-Corp | Kate MacDonald | Jonny Ingledew The Deadline for entry to the London Competitions is February 22.⌛️ Enter while you still have time: https://lnkd.in/dRVxt6b PS: Image proudly showing LSC sticker on top of the bottle. 😍

Hospitality Planning Tips: The Rugby Super League Grand Final is taking place on 12 October 🏉 Why not hold a viewing party at your venue, and consider offering these themed menu items and drinks to boost customer satisfaction and profits. Here are some ideas:  Themed Menu Ideas 1. Scrum-ptious Burgers - Hearty burgers with names inspired by rugby positions like "The Prop's Beefy Delight" or "The Scrum Half Chicken Classic." 2. Ruck & Roll Wraps - Flavourful wraps filled with options like spicy pulled pork, grilled vegetables, or chipotle chicken to keep the energy high. 3. Try Line Tacos - A variety of tacos named after famous rugby plays, such as "The Haka Spicy Beef Taco" or "The Fullback Fish Taco." Themed Drink Ideas 1. Kick Conversion Cocktails - Signature cocktails like "The Drop Goal Margarita" or "The Conversion Cosmo" with vibrant colours representing the teams playing. 2. Rugger’s Brew - Craft beers from local breweries, encouraging guests to try "The Maul Stout" or "The Tackle IPA." 3. Non-Tackle Mocktails - Refreshing non-alcoholic drinks for all ages, such as "The Sprint Spritzer" or "The Goal Line Ginger Lemonade." Promotions to Encourage Attendance • Early Bird Specials: Offer discounts on food and drinks for guests who arrive before the game starts. • Halftime Happy Hour: Special prices on select drinks during halftime to keep the spirits high. • Fan Photo Contest: Encourage guests to wear team colours and offer prizes for the best-dressed fans or the best fan photo posted on social media tagging the venue. Creating a vibrant and themed atmosphere with these menu and drink options not only enhances the game-watching experience but also encourages guests to choose your venue as the go-to place for major sporting events, increasing both customer satisfaction and profits. #RugbyGrandFinal #CapconTips #Hospitality #RiskManagement #StockControls #InventoryManagement #MysteryGuest #StockAuditing

Winning at the London Competitions can boost global sales and open international markets. Companies such as Downpour Gin and Tamborine Mountain Distillery achieved deserved success, drawing in buyers and gaining recognition. The London Spirits Competition is now considered one of the most important spirits competitions in the world and is positioned to call itself the world’s most relevant spirits competition as it rewards products that consumers and trade buy today. The competition is known to attract the best spirits judges in the world and reviews products by Quality, Value, and Package. Winning LSC clearly demonstrates the trade how well the spirits will be perceived in the market and will give the trade a very good indicator to stock that spirit. Here are some testimonials on how brands have benefited from international expansion and how brands can further use the winning of the London Competition to grow international markets.