14 December 2007
In October we took a trip with the UK Barista Team to take part in the 2nd European Team Challenge in Moscow. Ten countries all got together to compete for the title, won last year by the UK. With the world champion on the team, it should have been an easy win, alas, this wasn’t the case! Ed, Se, Hugo and James were in for a slight shock, not only at the food served in the hotel, but also by the advance preparation of the other countries! Throughout the event various challenges were set where points could be scored.
The first day gave the teams the opportunity to learn more about roasting, something, from talking to people at the barista jam, that they would like more of. Each team had chance to roast their beans, after a lecture from John Sanders. The end of the day proved a little hair-raising, with the roaster at about 300º it was not a great plan to turn off the electricity, and therefore the fans, at the show. After a fair bit of shouting and running around we were saved from an exploding roaster!
Sadly for the UK team they had to wait around all day to be told they would have to start early the next morning. Sitting around and waiting was a slight theme throughout the event and something to be considered in the future, but it did give everyone chance to share some tips and get to know each other better. It’s not everyday that people from Lebanon, Denmark, Estonia, Poland, Iceland, Ukraine, Ireland, Russia, and the UK get together!
The highlight of the second day had to be the vodka and coffee competition, which followed a cupping challenge. BTB’s Helen was called in to help with the judging, if the drinks served there are anything to go by shots in coffees overseas are not measured, and she was decidedly merrier by the end of it. The teams had to prepare four drinks for the judges to taste. The first, with only coffee and vodka, no other alcohol, the second the same, but with milk, and then the last two had to have these ingredients plus anything else the teams fancied – which is where the alcohol content shot up! Many if the teams chose to add a taste of their own country. Estonia’s Vana Tallin definitely did the trick and it will be a while before Helen forgets the raw herring served with the Russians drinks. The UK team presented vodka infused coffee beans – and also a delicious drink with Amaretto and cream.
The teams also had to run round the show trying to sell there coffee to the unsuspecting exhibitors and visitors, no mean feat if you don’t speak Russian!
The next two days included lectures on green beans, again, with John Sanders and filter brewing with Joe Smith from Marco. The UK team, throughout the event tried their best, but after many late nights, early morning and hours spent negotiating Moscow’s traffic the title was not to be kept, and instead went to the very deserving Russian team.
The last nights party proved to be a huge success, although we never thought we would actually say that there was just too much alcohol on the boat! Thanks to everyone for such a memorable trip, for many reasons, here’s looking forward to the next ETCC!
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