It was a bit of a late start on Friday as either people were running late or they were all at the pub next door getting beers in. However, just on 7:30 we had a full house again with people ramming into our Eastcastle street store to watch 16 brave and fearless baristas competing in Round Three to get into the finals.
We were honoured to have another incredible trio of judges for this round as lead judge and superstar photographer Glenn Watson kept everyone in line and he was joined by the current UK Barista Champion and ranked 9th barista in the world, Dan Fellows from Origin coffee alongside one of the originators of the London Coffee scene, former owner of The Espresso room and still heavily involved in the SCAE events and a trainer at the London School of Coffee, Ben Townsend.
So we started a bit late, but we dropped the lights and kicked off once again with Underworld Live at the Roundhouse for tunes. The standard was again very, very high and even though the judges are amongst the best in the world, they still had a mammoth task deciding, especially when it came to how to hold the cup when you are pouring. Watch out for this if you are competing, watch out for it general. If you are reading this and work in coffee, it was a great reminder tat part of your training program is to discuss and teach the how's and why's of how to hold a cup - no fingers on the rim!
In the end, after two intense rounds, these guys got through to the finals.
Alex from Originb
Zain from Saint Espresso
Zoe from Prufrock
Nick form Coffee Lab
This week we are again honoured with our judges as Glenn returns to be lead judge and is joined by a former manager of Workshop espresso, a barista at Noble espresso, a writer for Sprudge and the winner of #Smackdown16, Nico Halliday. As we write we do not yet have a third judge, but will have confirmation by the time we kick off.
Competitors this week include:
Daniel from Kaffeine
Edgar fromThe Attendant
Two mystery baristas from Curators
Pariwatan from Sodexho
Matt and Dan from Artigiano
Dan from Press London
Stephane from saint
Two mystery barista from Second Shot Coffee
Two mystery baristas from Prufrock
Kat - Freelance barista
Dan form Baxter Story
Once again, we have some great photos up online for your to see all the action so please check out these ones here and do share them across all your social media channels with #smackdown16.
Round Three
https://www.flickr.com/photos/getnoticed/albums/72157670935448013
Round Two
https://www.flickr.com/photos/getnoticed/albums/72157670649014324
Round One
https://www.flickr.com/photos/getnoticed/albums/72157673553185596
It is also a great indication of the depth of talent and number of baristas in London and across the Home Counties that we filled all 64 places a week before the heats started and still have 15 people in the waiting list in case of any drop outs.
Unfortunately 64 is the maximum number we can have to make it a short, sharp competition, so look out if you missed out for next September when #smackdown17 is on.
Have a great week and if you are competing on Friday, please be sure to check in when you arrive.
Peter Dore-Smith
Director
Kaffeine
Friday, 30 September 2016
Tuesday, 20 September 2016
Week beginning September 19th - #Smackdown16 - Round Two
Well we put all the beer in the fridge this time. There was no way were were gong to be caught out again. We weren't, but we just had enough as over 60 people crammed into Eastcastle street or even stood on the benches outside and watched through our wonderful arched windows.
We were honoured to have another stellar selection of judges for this round as lead judge and superstar photographer Glenn Watson kept everyone in line and he was joined by the author of the World Coffee Atlas, Director of Square Mile Coffee and 2007 World Barista Champion James Hoffmann. Unfortunately Director of Dose espresso and coffee legend James Phillips was unable to make it on the night, but we hope he can make it for the finals, instead were were able to bring in 4 times UK Latte Art Champion and currnently ranked 4th in the world and owner of three cafes and a training academy in Winchester, Dhan Tamang to be a guest judge.
In a sure sign of the commitment of some of the UK's baristas, we also had two of them drive four hours from Sheffield to compete, as well as a competitor from Oxford and others from Winchester. This is massive, and the quality of everyone was exemplary. Each year the standard gets higher and higher.
But we got started bang on time, so once again we killed the lights, dropped Faithless Live in Brixton for some tunes and kicked off. The standard was again very, very high and even though the judges are amongst the best in the world, they still had a difficult time and often different opinions on their choices
In the end, after two intense rounds, these guys got through to the finals.
Jack from Origin
Tom from Store Street Espresso
Csaba from Chief Coffee
Paul from Origin
This week we are again honoured with our judges as Glenn returns to be lead judge and is joined by one of the originators of the London Coffee industry when he opened The Espresso Room back in 2009, Ben Townsend alongside the head trainer of Origin Coffee and current UK Barista Champion Dan Fellows.
Competitors include:
Alex from Origin
Brenda from Department of Coffee
Shaun from Noble Espresso
Marco from The Attendant
Two mystery competitors from Curators - is Catherine competing?
Bartek from Store Street Espresso
Colina from Kaffeine
Zain from Saint Espresso
Johnathan from Terrone
Ben from Coffee Lab
Two mystery competitors from Prufrock
Nick from Coffee Lab
Joey from Upshot
Angelique from Cuisine de Poilane
Once again, we have some great photos up online for your to see all the action so please check out these ones here and do share them across all your social media channels with #smackdown16.
Round Two
https://www.flickr.com/photos/getnoticed/albums/72157670649014324
Round One
https://www.flickr.com/photos/getnoticed/albums/72157673553185596
It is also a great indication of the depth of talent and number of baristas in London and across the Home Counties that we filled all 64 places a week before the heats started and still have 15 people in the waiting list in case of any drop outs.
Unfortunately 64 is the maximum number we can have to make it a short, sharp competition, so look out if you missed out for next September when #smackdown17 is on.
Have a great week and if you are competing on Friday, please be sure to check in when you arrive.
Peter Dore-Smith
Director
Kaffeine
We were honoured to have another stellar selection of judges for this round as lead judge and superstar photographer Glenn Watson kept everyone in line and he was joined by the author of the World Coffee Atlas, Director of Square Mile Coffee and 2007 World Barista Champion James Hoffmann. Unfortunately Director of Dose espresso and coffee legend James Phillips was unable to make it on the night, but we hope he can make it for the finals, instead were were able to bring in 4 times UK Latte Art Champion and currnently ranked 4th in the world and owner of three cafes and a training academy in Winchester, Dhan Tamang to be a guest judge.
In a sure sign of the commitment of some of the UK's baristas, we also had two of them drive four hours from Sheffield to compete, as well as a competitor from Oxford and others from Winchester. This is massive, and the quality of everyone was exemplary. Each year the standard gets higher and higher.
But we got started bang on time, so once again we killed the lights, dropped Faithless Live in Brixton for some tunes and kicked off. The standard was again very, very high and even though the judges are amongst the best in the world, they still had a difficult time and often different opinions on their choices
In the end, after two intense rounds, these guys got through to the finals.
Jack from Origin
Tom from Store Street Espresso
Csaba from Chief Coffee
Paul from Origin
This week we are again honoured with our judges as Glenn returns to be lead judge and is joined by one of the originators of the London Coffee industry when he opened The Espresso Room back in 2009, Ben Townsend alongside the head trainer of Origin Coffee and current UK Barista Champion Dan Fellows.
Competitors include:
Alex from Origin
Brenda from Department of Coffee
Shaun from Noble Espresso
Marco from The Attendant
Two mystery competitors from Curators - is Catherine competing?
Bartek from Store Street Espresso
Colina from Kaffeine
Zain from Saint Espresso
Johnathan from Terrone
Ben from Coffee Lab
Two mystery competitors from Prufrock
Nick from Coffee Lab
Joey from Upshot
Angelique from Cuisine de Poilane
Once again, we have some great photos up online for your to see all the action so please check out these ones here and do share them across all your social media channels with #smackdown16.
Round Two
https://www.flickr.com/photos/getnoticed/albums/72157670649014324
Round One
https://www.flickr.com/photos/getnoticed/albums/72157673553185596
It is also a great indication of the depth of talent and number of baristas in London and across the Home Counties that we filled all 64 places a week before the heats started and still have 15 people in the waiting list in case of any drop outs.
Unfortunately 64 is the maximum number we can have to make it a short, sharp competition, so look out if you missed out for next September when #smackdown17 is on.
Have a great week and if you are competing on Friday, please be sure to check in when you arrive.
Peter Dore-Smith
Director
Kaffeine
Saturday, 10 September 2016
Week beginning September 12th- London Latte Art #Smackdown16 - Round One
So that was massive. The people cleared out, the room was empty and we went 'wow, so that was amazing'. The biggest crowd ever to come to a smackdown at Kaffeine rammed into our Eastcastle street store last night to cheer on their baristas as they battled for cash, prizes, an SCAE qualification course, huge trophies and never ending fame and glory.
We put 75 beers in the fridge in anticipation and after about 30 minutes we had run out and had to put more in the freezer for quick chilling. We killed the lights above the crowd, put on Underworld Live at the Roundhouse for tunes and kicked off. BOOM.
We were honoured to have lead judge and photographer Glenn Watson, World Barista Judge, Director of Taylor Street Baristas and World Tea Brewing Championship runner up Andrew Tolley and the editor of London's Best Coffee and 'superstar in his own mind' Phil 'Bassplayer' Wain as judges in what was also the highest calibre of latte art ever seen. With a superb prize pool donated form sponsors from Square Mile Coffee, Estate Dairy, Coffee Hit and Victoria Arduino it is no wonder.
Winners through to the finals from round 1 are:
Will from Origin
Sam from Kaffeine
Radu from Coopers Coffee
Joseph from Climpsons
This week we are honoured again to have Glenn back as lead judge, to be joined by Director of Square Mile Coffee, World Barista Champion and author of the World Coffee Atlas James Hoffman as well as one of the pioneers of the London coffee scene, founder and Director of Dose Espresso James Phillips.
Competitors in Round Two include:
Joao from Lab espresso
Jack from Origin
Paul from Origin
Luis from The Attendant
Sam from Upshot
Chloe from Kaffeine
Tom from Store Street
Jaspher form Oxford
Evan from Cuisine de Poilane
Chad form Chief Coffee
A mystery competitor from Notes - (might it be fabio himself?)
Tom from Overeasy
Katrina from Saint Espresso
and another mystery competitor from Climpsons
Photos from last night are already up on Flickr - check this out and remember #smackdown16 across all social media channels.
https://www.flickr.com/photos/getnoticed/albums/72157673553185596
I'm off to get more beers in. See you next Friday.
Peter Dore-Smith
Director
Kaffeine
We put 75 beers in the fridge in anticipation and after about 30 minutes we had run out and had to put more in the freezer for quick chilling. We killed the lights above the crowd, put on Underworld Live at the Roundhouse for tunes and kicked off. BOOM.
We were honoured to have lead judge and photographer Glenn Watson, World Barista Judge, Director of Taylor Street Baristas and World Tea Brewing Championship runner up Andrew Tolley and the editor of London's Best Coffee and 'superstar in his own mind' Phil 'Bassplayer' Wain as judges in what was also the highest calibre of latte art ever seen. With a superb prize pool donated form sponsors from Square Mile Coffee, Estate Dairy, Coffee Hit and Victoria Arduino it is no wonder.
Winners through to the finals from round 1 are:
Will from Origin
Sam from Kaffeine
Radu from Coopers Coffee
Joseph from Climpsons
This week we are honoured again to have Glenn back as lead judge, to be joined by Director of Square Mile Coffee, World Barista Champion and author of the World Coffee Atlas James Hoffman as well as one of the pioneers of the London coffee scene, founder and Director of Dose Espresso James Phillips.
Competitors in Round Two include:
Joao from Lab espresso
Jack from Origin
Paul from Origin
Luis from The Attendant
Sam from Upshot
Chloe from Kaffeine
Tom from Store Street
Jaspher form Oxford
Evan from Cuisine de Poilane
Chad form Chief Coffee
A mystery competitor from Notes - (might it be fabio himself?)
Tom from Overeasy
Katrina from Saint Espresso
and another mystery competitor from Climpsons
Photos from last night are already up on Flickr - check this out and remember #smackdown16 across all social media channels.
https://www.flickr.com/photos/getnoticed/albums/72157673553185596
I'm off to get more beers in. See you next Friday.
Peter Dore-Smith
Director
Kaffeine
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