From April 16th to 18th, the XXII National Barista Championship, organized by the Forum Cultural Del Café, will be held as part of the popular Hostelco fair.
Thanks to the hard work and effort of the entire Cafe Barsel team, two baristas from our team have managed to qualify for this grand national final. Both Manuel Barragán, runner-up in the Valencian Community competition at GBM COFFEE&COCKTAIL CLUB, and Enrique Domenech, champion of the Region of Murcia at ATICO PUB in Ceutí, are two of the sixteen finalists in this prestigious championship, which will be held in Barcelona as part of the Hostelco trade fair from April 16th to 18th. Therefore, the entire Café Barsel team, with its baristas, is already working at full speed to select the best coffees and perform spectacular and highly professional demonstrations in this championship.
What are national championships?
The Coffee Cultural Forum is the driving force behind the National Barista Championship in Spain, as well as the provincial and regional championships that ensure the participation of baristas from all over the country in the National Final. The first edition of the National Barista Championship Fórum Café was held in 2006, since then new editions have been held annually with the involvement of companies in the coffee and related sectors, as well as Hospitality Schools and the hospitality and restaurant sector in general. Among the unique aspects of the National Barista Championship are its objective and prize. While any competition aims to recognize the best, in the Fórum Café National Barista Championship, the champion is a consequence of the competition itself. The primary objective is to promote coffee education among hospitality students and professionals in the hospitality and coffee sectors, thereby enhancing the prestige of the barista profession. Furthermore, the Fórum Café National Barista Championship awards the winner with a trip to a coffee-producing country, where they can experience coffee firsthand at its origin.
What does the championship consist of?
Participants have 15 minutes to prepare their workstations, which include a work table, a two-group espresso machine, and a grinder, plus the judges' table where they will present their drinks. After the 15-minute preparation period, they will have 16 minutes to present their exercise. During this time, they must explain the coffee they will be presenting to the judges, prepare four espressos (one for the barista to taste, and the other three for the judges to taste and evaluate, assessing whether they match the explanation and the overall quality of the coffee and preparation). Next, they will prepare two coffee drinks with milk in cups of their choice, no smaller than 150ml. The judges will evaluate the quality of the milk emulsion, the balance between the coffee and milk flavors, and the skill in creating a design on the drink using latte art techniques. Finally, they will prepare and present two specialty coffee-based drinks, with or without alcohol at the barista's discretion. The judges will evaluate the complexity of the drink, its presentation, and, most importantly, the balance of flavors between the ingredients used and the coffee.
What prizes can be won?
The prizes that participants aspire to include, most notably, the title of National Barista Champion, which means being the best barista in the country. There are also National Runner-Up and Third Place awards. In addition, there are three specific prizes that recognize the three main phases of the competition. The first is the Best Espresso award, given to the barista who has technically prepared the best espresso, with the highest quality and best flavor in the competition. Then there's an award for best Latte Art, which, as the name suggests, recognizes the barista who has created the most complex and well-defined design in the entire competition. Finally, there's the award for best specialty beverage, given to the barista who creates the most complex and sensorially acclaimed drink in the entire competition. In addition, the winner of the competition receives a trip to a coffee-growing region to experience the entire process of this product firsthand, from its origins. We hope you can come and support us and cheer us on. You already know a little more about this championship, and in a few days we will introduce you to our two representatives.
