The benchmark of excellence
Find the category with your name on it
The The Cafe Awards celebrate the people, businesses and organisations doing exceptional work. Explore the categories and help recognise someone shaping the future through their achievement, leadership and impact.
The Cafe Awards
Barista of the Year Award
Skill, speed and a smile behind the machine.
About this category
This award recognises a barista whose coffee skill, consistency and way with customers stand out. Judges look for technical skill, knowledge, speed, care and how they help colleagues improve.
Eligibility
- Open to baristas working in UK cafes
- Coffee shops and coffee carts
Judging criteria
- Technical skill
- Coffee knowledge
- Consistency and speed
- Customer service
- Helping others
Qualitative criteria
Craft and warmth in every cup.
Metrics
- Customer feedback
- Training completed
- Competitions entered and colleagues trained
Additional criteria
Entries should include a short description of the cafe or business, photographs of the space, food or drink where helpful, supporting figures such as covers, average spend, growth or reviews, and, where possible, comments from customers. Figures can be given as ranges and nothing in an entry is shared beyond the judging panel. Judges consider the size and setting of every business, so a single counter kiosk competes on equal terms with a busy high street cafe or a small group.
Found your category?
Start your nomination now. Save a draft and finish whenever it suits you.
Nominate nowWant to sponsor this category?
Put your name beside the achievement it recognises, in front of the people who care about it most.
Ask about sponsoring it