PICTURED: Dan-Fredrick Asplund
The winner of this year’s Coffee Professionals Cup is Dan-Fredrik Asplund, who emerged victorious ‘after a thrilling contest’. Dan-Fredrik, who works for a company called Beans, won by offering judges ‘a coffee experience that many did not think was possible from an automatic coffee machine commonly found in the workplace’.
Second place went to Robert Fredblad, of Kaffeknappen, followed closely by Johan Larsson from Five – Day Week, in third .
The Coffee Professionals Cup, sponsored by Nestlé’s, was held for the third year in a row at Örenäs Castle. Seven of the best Nordic auto-baristas stepped into the room early in the morning. After a preparation period it was time for the seven contestants to create, present and serve five coffee varieties to the judges and a hundred spectators. They had just ten minutes to deliver…
All contestants called upon a depth of coffee knowledge, ‘sensory and technological skill’, enhanced by creativity and outstanding presentation. Each had to deliver five coffee variants, namely a cup of brewed coffee, an instant coffee; a cappuccino, an espresso and finally a signature drink.
The contestants had to choose between Zoégas Kenya, Zoégas Cultivo, Zoégas Bellezza Espresso , Espresso Nescafe and Nescafe Partner ‘s Blend and Gloria BIO milk powder.
The jury’s verdict on Dan-Frederik? ’He was outstanding in his presentation. He had a holistic approach and profound technical expertise that he transmitted to his drinks. His passion for delivering quality drinks from automatic machines was infectious.’
For the brewed coffee and his signature drink , Dan-Fredrick used a mixture of Zoégas Kenya and Zoégas Espresso Bellezza to create a wider flavor palette than previously thought possible. His winning signature drink was a café crème brûlée , a fusion of coffee, candied sugar; cream, flour and egg whites, which was burned off theatrically with a blow torch.
Dan Fredrick was pleased to win – to say the least. ‘Wow!’, he said, ‘It is really great to win Professionals Coffee Cup ! I am enormously proud considering the amazing quality of my fellow competitors. I’ve followed the event in its first two years and I’ve been impressed by the professionalism of the entrants, so it was hardly surprising that I was a bit nervous before the start. This year’s contestants were fabulous – what a gang! It was fantastic to see the enthusiasm and skill that each of them exhibited!
‘Dan-Fredrick managed to deliver five stunning cups, each presented with great detail and technical knowledge’, said Ellinor Persson, Nordic Marketing Manager, of sponsors Nestlé Professional. ‘Of course, we hope that this type of competition will help to raise the bar when it comes to our expectations of coffee delivered from an automatic machine.’
