Last Friday, I competed in my 1st barista competiton organized by the Malaysian Hotel Association during the recently concluded FHM show @ KL Convention Centre.
I arrived very early that morning as we were told that there was a briefing for the competitors in the morning at 7am. Also, I would need to carry all my tools, ingredients & crockeries to Hall 6 @ Level 3 and we need to go into the venue through the loading bay instead.
Just before the night, I created my Coffee Menu for the big day. Only the few of us who attended the briefing on Monday knew that we need to make one. The purpose of the Coffee Menu card is to let the judges know what is in our signature drinks.
[singlepic id=440 w=580 h=420 float=]
Front & back of the Coffee Menu
[singlepic id=439 w=580 h=420 float=]
Inside the Coffee Menu with the recipe of my signature drink for the competition
[singlepic id=472 w=580 h=420 float=]
The rule book for the competition & the competitors’ name list.
[singlepic id=471 w=580 h=420 float=]
Total of 8 competitors & luckily all turned up.
[singlepic id=445 w=580 h=420 float=]
The competition counter. The machine is provided by Dankoff, who is the main distributor of Nouva Simonelli in Malaysia.
[singlepic id=446 w=580 h=420 float=]
Close-up of the machine. Nouva Simonelli is the current official machine supplier for WBC.
[singlepic id=447 w=580 h=420 float=]
All new & future machines like this beauty is adopting the lever switch for steam & fancy electronics.
[singlepic id=448 w=580 h=420 float=]
A fellow contestant, Marvin that I got to know in the Barista Exchange website.
[singlepic id=450 w=580 h=420 float=]
Another competitor, See Jean, friend of former Malaysia barista champion, Cheryl.
[singlepic id=451 w=580 h=420 float=]
Myself posing sleepingly with a portafilter. Wake up, man! Get some coffee.
[singlepic id=452 w=580 h=420 float=]
Briefing before competition.
[singlepic id=453 w=580 h=420 float=]
Fernando & wife chatting with KF Chan before the briefing. Thank you guys who purposely come to support us!
[singlepic id=457 w=580 h=420 float=]
KF Chan supposed to be the 1st competitor but changed because this competitor above needs to go for bartending competition after this.
[singlepic id=458 w=580 h=420 float=]
The panel of judges from the F&B industry.
[singlepic id=459 w=580 h=420 float=]
KF Chan arranging his presentation on the judges’ table. Look behind KF Chan. Is it tension to have so many pair of eyes looking over you in every detail of your actions?
[singlepic id=461 w=580 h=420 float=]
KF Chan giving an intro to the judges. Also explained that the coffee blend (me too) consists of 4 single origins.
[singlepic id=462 w=580 h=420 float=]
KF Chan underway in the competition. Notice the 2 technical judges, they are Phil & Cedric from Highlander Coffee, Singapore.
[singlepic id=454 w=580 h=420 float=]
My ingredients & tools. Notice the hand-mixer to whip up the whipping cream & mascarpone cheese. Also the small glass containing the mix of green & roasted coffee beans for presentation on the judges’ table.
[singlepic id=455 w=580 h=420 float=]
My cups, saucers, several milk jugs & etc.
[singlepic id=456 w=580 h=420 float=]
Unpacking all the stuff I brought for the competition.
[singlepic id=464 w=580 h=420 float=]
My signature drink needs a mixture of whipping cream + mascarpone cheese, so I have to use the hand mixer to whip it up before my competition time as it takes some time (around 4-5 mins).
[singlepic id=465 w=580 h=420 float=]
All set, I am ready to go! Already start to get nervous even was competing just for fun.
[singlepic id=467 w=580 h=420 float=]
Underway in the competition. Messed up my signature drink as I didn’t close my cocktail shaker tight enough & got a coffee bath. Eventually finished my whole routine but little bit over time.
[singlepic id=468 w=580 h=420 float=]
Next up was See Jean.
[singlepic id=466 w=580 h=420 float=]
I like her presentation & she deservingly scored better than me with such details.
[singlepic id=470 w=580 h=420 float=]
After the competition, the judges gave us an overall comments & tips on the general result of our performances.
[singlepic id=469 w=580 h=420 float=]
Notice the girl beside Marvin, Wyn Hsia. She came down from Penang just to compete in this barista competition.
[singlepic id=473 w=580 h=420 float=]
My bronze medal. Collected after the competition.
The results are as below:
Silver – See Jean
Bronze – KF Chan, Marvin, Wyn Hsia & Myself
Note: FHM competition is following the medal system.
I am not too sure about others as I have left FHM after the competition, rather than wait till 5pm for the results to be displayed on the scoreboard at Hall 1.
Overall, I am satisfied with the outcome though I knew I can do better than this. I missed a lot of points as I did not read the rule book in detail & not cared so much about the presentation & also the F&B skills. I am just more concerned with the technical skills in front of the machine.
But after the judges pointed out a lot of points on F&B skills, it is worthwhile to pay more attention to these details if I want to win the next competition. Also baristas these days are the ones that need to be standing out to communicate with the customers. It is the total package & the end quality in the cup that matters.
Hopefully, I will do better in the next one.
