24th February 2012

Calling all who offer coffee

The Beverage Standards Association (BSA) is calling all ‘out of home’ cafés (fixed & mobile) and restaurants to enter this year’s Beverage Standards Awards – the Michelin stars of the coffee industry, open to members and non-members of the BSA.

As with the renowned Michelin Guide, only anonymous trained assessors will provide accurate and impartial assessments of an outlet’s beverages and service. Instead of ‘stars’, the BSA’s ‘cup’ rankings will be awarded to the different outlets. These BSA cup logos can then be displayed on recipients’ doors or windows to show the general public the standard of the outlet.

Rebecca Stone, owner of The Bottle Kiln in Derbyshire, which in last year’s Awards not only achieved 5 cup status – the highest BSA cup grade – but also the Best Cappuccino, Latte and Flat White Award, says: “I recommend every coffee shop out there to enter as the Awards are an excellent tool to push the standards of a business higher while offering an opportunity to receive feedback on many aspects of your business. The competition is a positive tool to focus staff, achieve maximum levels of customer service and maintain consistency and quality of products.”

Martyn Herriott, executive director, BSA says: “We urge all coffee shops to enter these Awards. The general public will be able to assess coffee shops in the same way as restaurants by seeing how many coffee cups an outlet has been awarded – so it will boost business.

“For the first time this year, as part of the Awards, entrants will be judged on environmental sustainability – for example, whether they use recycled materials and follow a strict environmental policy.”

In addition to the cup ranking competition where outlets will be able to score between 1 and 5 BSA cups, there will be the five National Best Drinks Awards for Best Small Espresso, Best Cappuccino, Latte or Flat White Coffee, Best Filter or Cafetiere Coffee, Best Tea and Best Hot Chocolate.

How to Enter

Entries can include cafes, tea shops, cafes within hotels or bars, restaurant, mobiles, beverage carts and service areas. One entry fee covers entry to the BSA National Accreditation Standard Scheme and all five Beverage Awards. The fee is £38 (plus VAT) for BSA members per café/site/mobile per entry and £50 (plus VAT) for non BSA members per café/site/mobile per entry. Closing date for entries to be received is 23 May 2012.

For more information and an entry form, visit www.beveragestandardsassociation.co.uk

Judging starts in May and the Awards will be presented at an Awards ceremony in London in September.