By Clyde Mooney
Coffee is the second most traded commodity in the world, and coffee consumption in Australia has increased by 65 percent in the past decade, creating an array of opportunities for the local hospitality sector.
The third heat of the HotClub Cup barista challenge is being conducted in July, with finals to be held in Sydney in September, and hopes to showcase coffee to the industry.
Organisers Hennessy Coffee and HTN are challenging baristas working in NSW clubs, pubs and hotels to compete against their peers, showcase their skills, and be in the running for prizes.
“As the only specialty coffee competition in Australia aimed at the hospitality sector, our aim for the HotClub Cup is to provide an innovative and exciting challenge that benchmarks and raises the standards of specialty coffee making in hotels, clubs and pubs," said John Hennessy, proprietor of Hennessy Coffee.
“We also want to be able to recognize and reward enthusiastic, passionate and committed individuals in this industry.”
The competition involves the preparation of six coffees, including the barista’s own designer ‘specialty coffee’, which can include alcohol.
Competitors are judged on all aspects of their performance, such as presentation, technique, cleanliness, service engagement, creativity and operation.
Hennessy told TheShout: “We have had a great response to this competition from the club industry, and we would love to get more involvement from the pub and hotel market."