The team at the Lake District based coffee roastery John Farrer & Co, Kendal, are thrilled to announce that they will be hosting their first ever professional Barista Championships.

New for 2024, the Farrer's Barista Championships, are designed to be a celebration of coffee and the skill of professional Barista, as well as giving them the opportunity to showcase their knowledge and shared commitment to the art of craft coffee.

The Championships are free to enter for Farrer's trade customers up and down the UK.

There will be a total of six heats, held from April to July, at Farrer's dedicated Barista Training Suite located at their Kendal Roastery & HQ on Shap Road, Kendal.

During the competition stage each of the six heats will see a total of four competitors go head-to-head for a place in the grand final in October.

Heat dates are as follows:

• 09^th April

• 16^th April

• 02^nd May

• 14^th May

• 04^th June

• 04^th July

For those Farrer's trade customers wishing to enter please contact training@farrerscoffee.co.uk

During the heats competitors will be put through their paces over a two-hour period. With judges including Farrer's Barista Trainer Michaela Hudson, scoring how they go about setting up their work station. Their espresso skills will then be assessed, after which the judges will examine how they then produce a milk and espresso-based beverage of their choice, before finally producing a signature coffee based alcohol-free beverage of their choice for the judges to assess.

The barista that receives the highest combined overall mark from all three judges will be announced the heat winner and go through to the grand finale being held on 02^nd October at Farrer's Training Suite. The judges on the day will be Beverage Standards Association trainers John Skinner and Martyn Herriott, in conjunction with Farrer's General Manager Rob Baines and Head Roaster Che Oxenham and Trainer Michaela Hudson, who between them will decide who will be crowned the Farrer's Barista Champion 2024.

The championship winner will received the winner's trophy for a year, a Sanremo Zoe Two Group Compact Espresso Coffee Machine worth £5,000 for their business, the opportunity to make their very own coffee blend and a three-day City & Guilds Level 2 VRQ Course and hamper with Farrer's coffees and more.

The runner up will receive a runner's up certificate, a one-day BSA Level 1 Course, and hamper brim full of Farrer's coffee and tea related goodies.

Each competitor in each of the championship heats will receive a goodie bag full of Farrer's teas and coffees.

Rob Baines, Farrer's General Manager, remarked:

"We're delighted to be able to announce our first ever Barista Championship and reward the people who serve up our coffee on a daily basis. Baristas are a key component in helping us deliver truly great coffee each and every time – once it's been harvested, processed, roasted by our team, packed and sent to the coffee shop it's down to the barista's skill in creating that final step to deliver coffee cup perfection."

Adding:

"Every barista is a huge asset to any business serving coffee, it's their job to ensure that quality and consistency is served up in every cup to their customers and we felt it was only right that we celebrated these dedicated individuals serving up John Farrer & Co Coffee each and every day by hosting first ever Farrer's Barista Championship."