2014 Espresso Italiano Championship

On Friday 3rd October 2014 from 10:00am – 4.00pm, the Italian Espresso National Institute's (INEI) Espresso Italiano Championship 2014 will take place at the RAC in Pall Mall. 16 top baristas from 14 espresso companies and organizations around the world demonstrate their skills to be crowned Espresso Italiano Champion 2014.

The competition stands out amongst the coffee community, as it judges the skill of the professional barista not their showmanship.

The INEI is responsible for the protection and promotion of original espresso through a product certification, and member companies can use the Italiano Espresso guarantee. Carlo Odello – Communications Manager for the INEI – sees London as a hub for coffee trends, a key reason for the location of this year's championship:

''The UK has an incredible market that is growing so fast. Coming to London means being in the centre of the coffee world today and having the opportunity to see the future of the market''

Each barista represents one INEI company or organisation: Mokarico, Altogusto, Astoria, Milani, Costadoro, Essse Caffè, Filicori Zecchini, La Genovese, Wega, Torrefazione Satumo, Torrefazione Caffè Michele Battista, Torrefazione Caffè Schreyoegg, International Institute of Coffee Tasters – Japan, International Institute of Coffee Tasters - Korea.

Each barista has 11 minutes to prepare four espressos and four cappuccinos. A technical judging panel of skilled professionals from the Italian coffee industry will grade them while a sensory judging panel of four officials from the International Institute of Coffee Tasters will sit in a separate room to let the coffee speak for itself.

Editors Notes

If you would like to attend the event at the Royal Automobile Club, please register your interest via k.dove@dialogueagency.com

About Italian Espresso National Institute

On July 6, 1998 the Italian Espresso National Institute (Istituto Nazionale Espresso Italiano) was founded, with the specific goal of safeguarding and promoting the original Espresso. Today the Italian Espresso National Institute is one of the most important associations in the coffee market counting 39 member companies. It groups espresso-equipment producers and roasters which develop overall €700M revenues.

The Italian Espresso National Institute safeguards and promotes the original Espresso through a product certification. Each member company which complies with the certification requirements has the right to use the mark Espresso Italiano Certificato (Certified Italiano Espresso). To guarantee consumers who choose to drink espresso at coffee bars bearing this mark, a strict technical specification has been issued, requiring the use of a certified coffee blend, certified equipment (machine and grinder-dispenser) and licensed personnel. The compliance of the three conditions above is supervised by the experts of the Italian Espresso National Institute and by the auditors of the Certifying Body.

Website: www.espressoitaliano.org

Twitter #espressochampion2014

Facebook /ItalianEspresso

ENDS

Further information: Katherine Dove Tel: 020 7389 9404 e-mail:k.dove@dialogueagency.com