Well, what a week! Monday saw us host our in house Climpson’s Coffee Champs at Climpson’s Arch, and Tuesday was the turn for our Wholesale Customers.

Our wholesale competition was broken down into 4 sections; an opening latte art battle, an order challenge, dialling in an espresso and a final blind cupping.

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The Climpson’s Coffee Champs 2015

Tuesday August 11 2015

Round one saw two baristas at a time battle it out over a latte art replication challenge. This meant that they had to show us their latte art skills and create two cups that looked exactly the same. Whilst you can make hundreds of coffees in a day – in front of a crowd the shakes can settle in! It was highly competitive stuff with 40 baristas whittled down to 20 - just like that.The Climpsons have been mighty busy the last few weeks in preparation for the first ever Climpson's Coffee Champs: a barista championship like no other for our Wholesale customers. The stakes were high with two baristas competing head to head and the winner moving through to the next round.

Round two was a ‘spin the bottle’ style of latte art selection. The bottle decided whether each barista made a heart, tulip or rosetta. Baristas battled it out to see who made the best design. 20 became 10.

Round three was the ‘order challenge’ whereby each barista had to make 3 coffees in 2 minutes. A tough challenge when you have 50 other people in the room watching your every move. This was judged on a points system and to move into the semi-finals.

Round four was where the competition really heated up; with the final four caught up in a ‘spro down of epic proportions. Omar from Love Die Late, Gareth from Wood St, Jarryd from Husk and Risa from Timberyard made the grade. The ultimate barista challenge was to dial in a grinder and produce the best espresso possible in 8 minutes. Concentration levels were high as the top 4 were really put to the test using Vulcano on demand grinders and a La Marzocco GS3. Judged on technique, dosing, tamping, extraction time, cleanliness and taste it was a close call.

The finalists were announced – Jarryd from Husk and Risa from Timberyard. Both very deserving in their own rights, under high pressure they produced high quality.

The finale involved a cupping triangulation whereby the barista had to pick the odd coffee out. Of course we made this pretty tricky – for example using three of the same coffee, but roasted one day apart. Ultimately in a very heated battle Jarryd was crowned winner by one point!

The celebrations continued into the night and Jarryd will now not only have bragging rights for a year, but will come to the Dublin Coffee Festival on behalf of Climpson & Sons.

Thank you to all who competed and supported

Husk Coffee

Timberyard

Love Die Late

Wood St Coffee

Ottolenghi

Nopi

Craving Coffee

LP Café

Kahaila

Bean & Brew

Birdhouse

HER

Fig & Sparrow

Sawyer & Grey

Local Hero

Fotzbillies

Make; Coffee

Briggs & Williams

Henry’s Coffee Bar