Page 2 - SBrewing (Sept/Oct21)

Page 2 www.beveragestandardsassociation.co.uk

SEPTEMBER / OCTOBER . 2021 | VOL.21

Chairman's Comment

Welcome to this latest edition of our award winning magazine for our trade.

There seems to be a new found energy in our channels albeit tinged with some

concern over challenges with costs rising, energy prices logistical issues and of
course the resurgence of covid cases.

The BSA had a booth at Caffè Culture and we had a good deal of visitors to see us

and it was i believe a very well attended event and felt, to a degree, like old times.

I had the real pleasure to attend and give out the awards at the Barista
Championship held at Stokes Tea and Coffee in Lincoln which was very well

organised event, attended well and had great competitors, great judges and even
a celebrity from TV.

The signature drinks were to say the least, inventive, and one in particular with

Beetroot as an ingredient took my interest as it was to me “surprisingly pleasant”.

Stokes is also one of the BSA’s City and Guilds Barista Skills Training Centres and
my thanks go to all there for their membership and support of our training over

many years.

On the drive home that night I reflected upon the passion, knowledge and skill of
both the competitors and the judges. It’s fair to say the average coffee drinker has

no idea or appreciation of the depth of the trade behind their cup but what it
does is to ensure that standards and quality and value for money are forever
improving. As consumers that is all we really want but take it all so much for
granted.

The BSA was born out of this desire to uphold standards, improve training and
quality and it was pleasing to see all this in action.

Steve Slark

chairman@beveragestandardsassociation.co.uk