Our Sybilla participated the Dutch Barista Championship 2017. The contest was held during the Amsterdam Coffee Festival at 11 March 2017 and Sybilla competed for the title. She became third and received the prize for the best newcomer. In this blog she will share her experiences about this adventure.
I vividly recall the moment when Noortje and Inge asked me if they could sign me up for the Dutch Barista Championship. To be honest I didn’t dare to do it, but their full faith in me convinced me to participate. I still can’t believe I came in third of the Netherlands AND had the honor to receive the prize for best newcomer!
The preparations
I’m surrounded by so many creatives and amazingly skilled people. Eventually we gathered a group of fifteen to prepare me for the pre-rounds and finals. We spent a lot of time testing roast profiles and recipes, brainstorming about the concept and selecting the whole set-up.
Eventually the competition day got closer and training nights were getting longer and more intensive. It wasn’t easy to ask for feedback and give a positive spin to it, but it’s the only way to get better. The preparations took a lot of time and I surprised myself with what I’m capable of. Of course the girls already knew that about me..
Worth the effort!
I do want to recommend everyone to enter a competition like this. The experience enriches you and you will learn a lot. Because you have to be such an all-round competitor, you will find out easily where your strengths are and you will learn how to improve your weaknesses. Even though I don’t feel comfortable on a stage like that, I’m amazed by myself for being able to perform under that much pressure.
You can imagine the excitement right after the competition. I still can’t believe how many people backed me up and I’m so grateful for all the love and support I received that day. That night we partied and let me tell you, it was one to remember.
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