Earlier this year, the Lake District coffee roastery John Farrer & Co team, Kendal, launched their first-ever professional Barista Championships. Wednesday 02nd October saw them crown the first ever Farrer’s Barista Champion (2024).
Since the competition’s launch, over 20 professional Baristas from coffee shops, cafes, bars, and hotels across the region have competed in six heats held during spring and summer to secure a coveted spot in the final.
The final six who went head-to-head on 02nd October were:
Charlie Edgar from Lowther Castle & Gardens, Newtown, Penrith
Luke Klein from Boaters Bar, Bowness
Nina Hibberd from Bay View Garden Centre, Carnforth
James Greenwood from Freshers Café, Ambleside
Emma Cartwright from 2 Sisters Café, Plumgarths
And Ennija Zalecka from the Halston Hotel, Carlisle, who stepped in as the next-in-line finalist, replacing Katie Jackson from Brew Brothers, Kendal, who was sadly unable to take part.
On finals day the six rivals gathered at Farrer’s HQ, on Shap Road, to battle it out under the watchful eye of a panel of expert judges made up of Beverage Standards Association trainers, John Skinner, and Martyn Herriott, in conjunction with Farrer’s General Manager Rob Baines, Head Roaster Che Oxenham and Trainer Michaela Hudson, who between them assessed the competitors against three stringent categories to decide who would be crowned Farrer’s Barista Champion (2024).
Each participant was scored against several criteria including how well they produced a signature coffee, how well they performed in a technical brewing exercise and finally how innovative and creative they could be in creating a Bake Off-style showstopper toffee apple-inspired coffee using a surprise signature roast coffee – which in this instance was Deterra Red Bourbon, a sustainable and climate-friendly coffee from Brazil.
After a keenly fought final the judges returned their verdict for each of the six finalists, announcing both the runner-up and the overall winner, in what proved to be a keenly fought final, with only seventeen points separating first from sixth.
The championship runner-up was Luke Klein, from Boaters Bar, Bowness, who was rewarded for his efforts with a runner-up certificate, a three-day City & Guilds Level 2 VRQ Course, and a hamper full of Farrer’s coffee goodies, including a new limited edition Barista t-shirt, as well as the chance to create his own blend of coffee and to do a curated tasting cupping with Farrer’s Head Roaster Che Oxenham.
The overall Farrer’s Barista Champion (2024) was announced as James Greenwood from Freshers Café, Ambleside, who was presented with the winner’s trophy for a year, a Sanremo Zoe Two Group Compact Espresso Coffee Machine worth over £5,000 for their business, and the opportunity to make their very own coffee blend with the Farrer’s Head Roaster Che Oxenham. As well as a three-day City & Guilds Level 2 VRQ Course, and a hamper full of Farrer’s goodies.
Each of the four other finalists also received a finalist certificate, a specially engraved limited edition professional coffee tamper and a selection of Farrer’s goodies to mark their achievement in taking part in the final including a new limited edition Barista t-shirt each.
James Greenwood, of Fresher’s Café, Ambleside, Farrer’s Barista Champion 2024, said: ‘’I truly can’t believe I’ve won. When they announced the results I thought they were joking! It just doesn’t seem real, especially as I was called out on a shout in my other job as a retained firefighter at midnight, so I didn’t think for one second I’d be in with a chance. I’m totally blown away at being crowned the winner, especially being pitted against five other amazing competitors.’’
Lisel Williams, manager of Fresher’s Café, said: ‘’James sent me a text to say he’d won, but I didn’t believe him. We’re always joking with each other, and I thought this was one of his jokes, especially when he didn’t text back when I queried what he’d sent. So, I phoned Farrer’s to try and get hold of him. They congratulated me and told me he’d won – I just didn’t know what to say, but I’m proud of what he’s achieved and would encourage everyone to give it a go next year.’’
Jon Skinner, Beverage Standards Association trainer, remarked: ‘’Anyone who can pull together the confidence and enthusiasm to compete at this level is to be commended. Every single competitor has been on a journey which has seen them develop hugely as Baristas. All too often coffee is something we tolerate because it’s made badly. I’m pleased to say that isn’t the case with each of the competitors who have taken part in Farrer’s final. Every single one of them has shown they have the knowledge and ability to be able to produce exemplary coffee every single time.’’
Martyn Herriott, Beverage Standards Association trainer, commented: ’’The standard exhibited across this competition has been exemplary. Farrer’s has run a very slick event which has been carefully planned, prepared, and ultimately delivered and is a credit to everyone involved. The competitors themselves diverse significant amounts of praise, they prepared and practised and even when faced with an innovation round using unfamiliar products and ingredients weren’t phased, giving it their all, which came across in the final results, with the competitors separated by just seventeen points, which is remarkable and thoroughly deserves our praise.‘’
Rob Baines, Farrer’s General Manager, remarked: ‘’I’d like to take this opportunity to thank every single Barista who stepped forward to take part in Farrer’s first-ever Championship. The standards exhibited by each of the competitors in the heats were exceptional, which in itself made it difficult to choose our six finalists. James, Ennija, Charlie, Nina, Luke, and Emma have impressed us all. They’ve done each of the businesses they represent proud, and I’m looking forward to following their careers with interest. I’d like to take this opportunity to thank each of the Farrer’s team who’ve been involved in organising this competition, Michaela, Che, Iona, and Brian and to say a big thank you to Sanremo Coffee Machines UK, DRWakefield, the Beverage Standards Association, BIEPI / Style Café, Absolute Digital Print, 1883 Maison Routin and Drink me Chai for their generous support as we look forward to gearing up to doing it all again in 2025.’’