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PU LL: E V EN T S IN LATE APRIL IN LONDON, six baristas from across the U.K. competed in a thrilling U.K. Barista Championship (UKBC) final in front of an enthusiastic audience, which filled the entire performance arena at the Old Truman Brewery. Hosted by Allegra at the London Coffee Festival, the event was also broadcast live to 39 countries around the world on the U.K. Coffee Events Ustream channel. Videos from this event are available to watch online (www.ustream.tv/channel/u.k.coffeeevents). With two performances already completed by each of the finalists in the heats and semifinal of the competition, all that stood between them and the Reg Barber 2013 U.K. Barista Championship trophy (which was hand-delivered by Reg himself) was an epic 15-minute-long barista performance. Square Mile Coffee's John Gordon would go on to win the 2013 UKBC, becoming the second barista to win the national title three times (the first was Simon Robertson who won in 2002, 2003, and 2005). For a complete review of each of the six final performances, see Barista Magazine's blog, www.baristamagazine.com/blog. Team Square Mile was also represented in the U.K. Brewers Cup, with Sang Ho Park heading to Melbourne, Australia, to compete in the World Brewers Cup after winning with a polished performance. Sang Ho was competing in the U.K. Latte Art Competition (held on the same day) as well, so he juggled practice and prep times seemingly with ease, maintaining a constant smile and air of calm. For the first time all U.K. Coffee Events competitions took place at the London Coffee Festival. Now in its third year, this is the show to visit and participate in. We kicked off with the 2013 U.K. Cup Tasting Championship with 21 competitors battling it out in heats of three to cup eight triangles. Jason Gonzalez (Colonna and Smalls) correctly guessed eight out of eight cups to take the crown in the first year he entered. Jason bagged himself a ticket to the SCAE World of Coffee in Nice, France, to compete in the World Cup Tasters Competition. The unexpected interest this year was in the U.K. Coffee In Good Spirits Championship. After initially struggling to fill the spaces this year, the entrants put on a great show in front of an appreciative audience. The judges had fun and the coaches assured me they enjoyed the practice sessions. Gordon Howell from the Attic at Harlequin in York was the surprise winner, only just edging out 2012 World Coffee In Good Spirits fourth-place winner Dan Fellows. I'm confident that next year the event will be fully subscribed as it has previously not enjoyed a great level of exposure. Joining Jason and Gordon in Nice is the 2013 U.K. Latte Art Champion and another first-time entrant, Dhan Tamang, who is the head barista at Caracoli Coffee Shop. Performing in front of a great crowd and under the scrutiny of the media (BBC One's "The One Show" was filming this event), Dhan produced some amazing designs and kept cool under pressure. Former World Barista Champion Gwilym Davies was a lastminute entrant in the 2013 U.K. Cezve/Ibrik Competition. Turning up with only spoons and coffee, Gwilym "procured" all 26 barista magazine PHOTOS BY GLENN WATSON U.K. COFFEE EVENTS SPARKLE AT LONDON COFFEE FESTIVAL Top photo: At the awards ceremony for the U.K. Coffee In Good Spirits Championship, fourth-place winner Diana Johnston (le ), claps for Gordon Howell (center) as he realizes he won. At right, second-place finisher Dan Fellows—who won the U.K. Coffee In Good Spirits Championship in 2012 and placed fourth on the world stage—applauds Gordon happily. Below, Gordon concentrates on his Irish coffees in the final round of the U.K. Coffee In Good Spirits Championship.