The search is on for UK Barista Champion 2011

The championships aim to find the nation's top barista, with regional heats held throughout the country in January and February and the final held at IFE11, at London's ExCeL centre on 15th and 16th March. The top scoring barista will be crowned with the coveted title of UK Barista Champion. Judges will be assessing the knowledge of the entrants as well as their attention to detail, creativity and signature drink. Last year's winner John Gordon, of Gorilla Tampers and London-based Square Mile Coffee, said: "Entering the UK Barista Championships has been an invaluable experience. The support received from the SCAE UK throughout was fantastic and the competition itself is an ideal environment for baristas to share knowledge and keep improving on their skill set." John Sherwood, UKBC chairman, added: "As well as benefitting the individual barista, entering the competition is of advantage to the business as a whole, which will profit from a heightened quality of beverages and service. We have seen cafés with a long history of entering their baristas into the competition succeed enormously as customers stay loyal to the excellent quality of coffees served." The UK Barista Championship is organised by the Speciality Coffee Association of Europe UK chapter (SCAE UK). The SCAE UK is made up of members from all areas of the coffee industry, from machine manufacturers to roasters, baristas, café owners and ancillary suppliers.