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Dubliner wins world coffee-making prize

by infomatique | June 23, 2008 at 07:08 pm | 194 views | 2 comments

The story below reminds me of my first visit to California in 1979.

I had just joined Memorex and the company had arranged for me to spend some time at HQ. Fifteen of us left Dublin to travel to the US via Heathrow (my least favourite airport). Due to various problems we arrived late in Heathrow and then BA refused to allow members of the group to board because they could not transfer our luggage from the Aer Lingus plane in time to allow them (BA) to meet their schedule. I had not intention of staying in Heathrow overnight so when I got to the check in I told them that I did not have any luggage except for my hand-luggage so I was allowed to board. Then due to a technical problem we sit on the runway for about two hours.

When I arrived in California I discovered that all the luggage was in fact on the plane and this caused me no end of problems especially with customs and then getting about thirty suitcases to the final destination.

Eventually I arrived at the apartment complex (I think that it was known as "Oakwood Apartments") and as we had been promised fully stocked apartments I was looking forward to getting something to eat.

Unfortunately when I got into the apartment it was competely empty except for one item. There was no bed linen, no towels, nothing but a tin of "Irish Mint Coffee". I had never heard of such a thing as Irish Mint Coffee but the label assured me that "the Irish were famous not only for their conversation but also for their mint coffee" ... upon reading this I exploded just like Naomi Campbell would have if this had happened to her.

Now many years later I discover that a man from Dublin is the world champion coffee maker, I wonder does he know how to make Irish Mint Coffee?

A Dubliner has become a world champion coffee maker.

Stephen Morrissey from Skerries has won the 2008 World Barista Championship in Copenhagen in Denmark.

The 25-year-old impressed the judges with his preparation of four espressos, four cappuccinos and four original drinks that he created himself. The coffees were judged on their taste, cleanliness, creativity, technical skill and overall presentation.

National champions from 51 countries converged to compete for the title of world's top barista in front of a live audience of several hundred spectators and thousands of online viewers worldwide.

As the winner of the 2008 competition, Mr Morrissey receives a highly sought after La Marzocco GS/3 espresso machine and a Compak K-10 WBC espresso grinder, together worth more than €5,700, in addition to his prestigious title.

Seven judges, including one head judge, four sensory judges and two technical judges evaluated the entries.

The runner up was David Makin from Australia, followed by Liesbeth Sleijster (Netherlands), Daniel Remheden (Sweden), Michael Yung (Canada), and Soren Stiller Markussen (Denmark). Full results are at the World Barista Championships site.