Just like that, we’re over halfway through 2018.
It’s incredible to think that shortly, ASCA regional championships will be starting again. We know many of you are looking forward to competing, and vying for the ASCA top 12 national rankings in the Australian Barista, Brewers, Cup Tasting, Latte Art, and Roasting Championships. The announcement of this year’s top 12 built anticipation and healthy rivalry ahead of the nationals, and we’re keen to see who will shake things up again.
The 2019 regional dates are as follows:
- Northern Region: 14 – 16 September
- Southern Region: 13 – 14 October
- Central Region: 27 – 28 October
- Western Region: 3 – 4 November.
On behalf of ASCA, I’d also like to congratulate Craig Simon on his outstanding World Barista Championship (WBC) performance. His professionalism, dedication and passion shone brightly on the stage. Placing seventh best in the world is an achievement few have the honour to say. We hope his routine has inspired a new generation of baristas to think broadly about how they can make a positive impact to our local, national, and even global coffee industry.
With the recent announcement that the WBC and World Brewers Cup are taking place at the Specialty Coffee Expo in Boston next April, naturally many are curious how the 2019 Australian Coffee Championships will work. As always, ASCA will ensure it provides a world-class event for our competitors. Stay tuned to the ASCA website for the latest updates.
Competing is not the only benefit for ASCA members. Following the first successful ASCA Symposium in 2017, the second Symposium returned on 29 July at Collective Roasting Solutions in Sydney. Attendees heard from industry experts on how to be more business savvy, how to improve their social media presence, how to take the perfect Instagram shot, and how to maintain healthy mental wellbeing in the workplace. It was great to see the industry come together and learn valuable skills to improve our businesses together.
The remainder of the year is set to be jam-packed with events and opportunities.
If learning more about the crop to cup process sparks your interest, then the 2018 ASCA Barista Camp is for you. Coming in spring 2018 from the ASCA Barista Guild, the Barista Camp will provide the perfect opportunity to visit some of Australia’s own coffee producers, as well as network with baristas from around the country.
The ASCA Roasters Guild is also planning an event in the second half of 2018, with Cup of Excellence cuppings at the top of the agenda.
ASCA also believes in recognising excellence within the Australian coffee community, which is why we’re partnering with the Eleonora Genovese Women in Coffee Awards again in 2018-19.
The Awards recognise the many contributions Eleonora Genovese made to the Australian coffee community. She displayed many qualities that women in the coffee industry aspire towards, such as drive, leadership, and passion to unite the local and international coffee communities. In order to make these awards more accessible for the coffee community, nominations are now open year-round on the ASCA website. Nominating is easy. Simply put forward yourself or a woman who inspires you.
To ensure you don’t miss out on these fantastic events, check that your ASCA membership is current and stay up-to-date on socials and online. If you’re not already a member, sign up from just $45.
Whether you’re a café owner, roaster, barista, or coffee connoisseur, ASCA will continue to bring you the best in educational and networking experiences throughout the year.