Winners of the Beverage Standards Association (BSA) Awards were announced at the Awards ceremony on 10 November at The Midland Hotel, Manchester.
The aims of the Awards are to raise standards across the industry and help all participating establishments to improve in their chosen field of operation. All businesses which entered the 2014 Accreditation and Best Drink Awards were visited by BSA member trained assessors who provided accurate and impartial assessments.
The BSA’s ‘cup’ rankings are awarded to different outlets, with five being the maximum. These BSA cup decals (two way window stickers) are displayed on the doors or windows to show the general public the standard of the outlet. The BSA gives all entrants verbal feedback at the time of the assessment and a written feedback is sent at a later date.
Stringent standards
Gordon Howell, chairman of the BSA Awards assessors, who runs The Harlequin and The Attic in York with his wife Marie and in previous years won 5 Cup Accreditation and the first ever BSA Best Espresso Award, said:
- “The margin between the top 5 Cup Accreditation and 4 Cup was very close. The final 5 Cup sites all had outstanding characteristics, but they all had four features in common:
- “Two, sometimes three, of the three drinks judged on each visit, were so good as to be in final competition for a Best Drink Award as well.
- “Each offered a choice of all drinks to customers. This meant that at least two coffee blends or single origin coffees were available for espresso and used in other coffee based drinks. Two or three different hot chocolates, often single country origin. A wide range of loose leaf teas, well described in carefully written menus.
- “A sommelier standard depth of knowledge of drinks, brewing methods and taste characteristics from all staff dealing with customers, eager to advise on what might be best for them.
- “Almost no faults which could be identified, giving a minimum of at least 95%.”
Best Drinks Award Winners
The winners received an engraved plate and a certificate. The final winners are all 5 or 4 Cup accredited sites.
Best Espresso
Sponsored by Kimbo UK
Cotswold Artisan Coffee, Cirencester
Timberyard Seven Dials, London
Best Cappuccino
Sponsored by Jaguar Espresso Systems
Pumphreys Brewing Emporium, Newcastle
Best Latte
Sponsored by Jaguar Espresso Systems
Rhode Island Coffee, Stockport
Best Flat White
Sponsored by Jaguar Espresso Systems
Kaffeine, London
Taylor St Baristas, Brighton
Best Filter
Sponsored by Foster Hughes
Taylor St Baristas (Monument), London
Best Tea
Sponsored by Ridgways
Bean & Bud, Harrogate
Best Hot Chocolate
Sponsored by Kokoa Collection
Googies Art Café, Folkestone
BSA “Raising Standards”
Sponsored by the BSA
Bean & Bud, Harrogate
BSA Newcomer Award
Sponsored by the BSA
Cotswold Artisan Coffee, Cirencester
BSA “Overall Experience” Award
Sponsored by the BSA
Habitat Cafe, Aberfeldy
The Accreditation Process – sponsored by 3M Water Filtration
The following outlets were presented with their certificate and decals (window stickers)
5 CUP
Bean & Bud, Harrogate
Cotswold Artisan Coffee, Cirencester
Habitat Cafe, Aberfeldy
Timberyard Seven Dials, London
Pumphreys Brewing Emporium, Newcastle
The Apple Tree, Barton-under-Needwood
Taylor St Baristas, Brighton
4 CUP
Taylor St Baristas, Monument, London
Bean Loved, Skipton
Googies Art Café, Folkestone
Kaffeine (Fitzrovia) London
Rhode Island Coffee, Stockport
Rhode Island Coffee, Warrington
The Coffee Collective, Stourbridge
Café at 36, Exeter
Grindsmiths, Manchester
Mocha Mocha Coffee House, Bristol
Pumphreys Showroom, Blaydon
Rhode Island Coffee, Oldham
Timberyard Old Street, London
The Crown Spa Hotel, Scarborough
Beverage Standards Awards (BSA) 2015
The BSA is calling all ‘out of home’ specialised coffee shops, cafes, tea shops, cafes within hotels or bars, mobiles, beverage carts and restaurants in England, Scotland and Wales to enter next year’s prestigious Awards, open to member and non-members. The BSA operates two accreditation processes – the 1 to 5 Cup Accreditation Programme and The National Best Drinks Awards.
For more information click here