Coffee Kids and Matthew Algie Host Barista Madness Competition

Following last year’s successful (and very fun) Barista Knockout competition, Coffee Kids is teaming up with Matthew Algie, the UK’s leading independent coffee roaster, to host a similar event on Wednesday, 18th May. Some of the industry’s best baristas will go head to head and put their latte art to the test. The event will help to generate funds to support Coffee Kids projects at origin.

The event will be held at the Hand & Flower pub across from this year’s Caffe Culture exhibition which is being staged at London’s Olympia, from 18 –19th May. Caffe Culture is the UK’s most focussed exhibition for the café and coffee bar market.

The Barista Madness competition will put some of the most renowned baristas in the UK against one another in a lively latte art competition. A panel of esteemed judges will decide who takes the crown and wins the priceless trophy of 2011 champion. This year, the event will include a wheel of fortune, which will present the baristas with some extra challenges, such as pour a perfect rosetta in front of their peers.

Carolyn Fairman, Executive Director of Coffee Kids, said:

“Matthew Algie has supported Coffee Kids since 2001 and during that time they have donated over $200,000 to Coffee Kids programmes. They set the standard for a company that recognises its connection to origin and cares about the livelihood of coffee-growing families and the environment, which is the heart of the coffee industry.”

Gary Nicol, Chief Executive of Matthew Algie, added:

“As long-term supporters of Coffee Kids, we continue to be impressed with their work with local partners supporting coffee communities in the widest sense. Coffee Kids’ work is particularly strong on education, health awareness and helping women in coffee-producing communities to empower themselves. The Barista Madness competition is a fun way to celebrate and promote Coffee Kids’ great work”.

The evening reception will include:

•A Barista Madness latte art competition, featuring previous World Barista Championship winner, Gwilym Davies, and other barista maestros!

•A showing of a short film celebrating one of Coffee Kids’ amazing partner organisations, AUGE (Self-managed Development). Based in the state of Veracruz, Mexico AUGE works with coffee-growing communities to develop programmes that combat poverty in some of Mexico’s poorest communities.

•A raffle with fantastic coffee hardware, vouchers and gifts donated from a variety of companies exhibiting at the Caffe Culture exhibition.

If you are interested in coming along to the event on Wednesday 18th May, tickets are available from Coffee Kids (), or at the Matthew Algie Exhibition Stand.