UK & Ireland finalists in World Barista Championships

The World Barista Championships are well underway here in Atlanta, Georgia. Of the 51 national champions representing their countries over the course of Friday and Saturday, just six went through to the finals being held today, Sunday 19th April. Gwilym Davies, UK national champion and barista behind his coffee cart on Whitecross Street in London, and Ireland champion Colin Harmon will be fighting it out alongside entrants from Hungary, Korea, the U.S. and Canada.

Alongside the Championships is the world's largest gathering of coffee professionals - growers, producers, importers, exporters, roasters and baristas all gathered under one huge roof to talk shop. The expo winds up today and I'll be back in London on Tuesday to fill in the details of what's going on here. But in brief -- new home roaster from Behmor; interview with Cup of Excellence Executive Director to follow; Intelligentsia and Counter Culture Coffee leading the way in sourcing and roasting coffee here in the U.S.; and Has Bean owner Steve Leighton continuing to expand his quality coffee range.

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