Barista of the Year Competition

In November (2019) we held our first Barista of the Year competition in partnership with Extract Coffee, our coffee supplier and roaster. Extract has been working across all Searcys venues and restaurants for almost two years and they have created a specially blended coffee for us. Extract sources our Searcys blend from a cooperative of smallholders in Peru and a family-run farm in Columbia that you can try in every Searcys venue.

To enter, we asked Searcys team members to create a summer coffee recipe and to tell us a little bit about what inspired them to become a barista. Extract Coffee hosted the competition at their London offices and training centre in Southwark, where they provided pre-competition training for our four finalists. Our panel of judges on the day featured our Beverage Ambassador, Joel Claustre, Head of Product Development, Annie Herriott and Extract’s Head of training, Chris Gallon. The four finalists were asked to make two espressos, two milk-based coffees and present their coffee recipe for summer 2020.

Well done to the runner-up Riccardo Dalla, whose ‘Searcys’ Crown’ incorporated a well-balanced blend of chocolate, coffee and mint and was highly commended by the judges. Congratulations go to our first Barista of the Year Dimitrious Gkremos who made flawless espressos and created a vegan turmeric iced coffee ‘Summer sunrise’ whilst impressing the judges with his rapport. He said, “My girlfriend inspired me to become a Barista. She has been working as a Barista for 7 years and her passion and love for coffee has taught me something new every day”. Next summer you will be able to taste Dimitrious’s ‘Sunrise’ coffee in selected Searcys venues.

The competition was a great way to recognise the talented individuals working hard to create brilliant experiences in Searcys restaurants, cafes, bars and event venues. If you would like to try our Searcys blend of coffee, roasted by Extract Coffee, please visit any Searcys venue.