Lara Gomes, a recent Food and Beverage Management graduate, won the bronze medal in the Barista category at the 37th edition of the European Association of Schools of Hotel and Tourism (AEHT) Annual Conference and Competition, which was held in Riga, Latvia, from November 4th to 9th.
Four hundred and thirty students from 24 countries participated in this competition that covers several categories linked to the different branches of Hospitality and Tourism and in which competitors have to perform different tests.
Lara Gomes, participating in the Barista category, had to take a theoretical test in English on the topic of coffee and a practical test that consisted of making two espressos, two cappuccinos and also a signature drink with two doses.
The tests were taken as a team with a student representing the Netherlands, in a partnership that worked well, even taking into account the technical demands of the practical test: “For example, to obtain the perfect espresso every gram of coffee counts. It largely depends on the way we handle the coffee, the way it is pressed and placed in the machine, as every detail will affect the final flavor of the espresso. So there has to be extreme delicacy and care to get the best that coffee has to offer in a simple cup”, explains Lara Gomes.
With the Restaurant and Beverage Management course (post 12th year course) completed just two months ago at , the young woman from Vidigueira has no doubts about the professional life that is now beginning: “This incredible experience only made me more eager to deepen my my passion for the Barista area, especially when it comes to the whole rabbit that are specialty coffees and the competitions that surround them. I think for now I want to work, learn as much as possible and meet as many people linked to the area as possible so that eventually in a few years I can start participating in professional level competitions”.
The profession of Barista has gained more and more relevance in the Bar and Restaurant world. The Barista is a coffee expert who has mastered the art of preparing drinks based on this ingredient.
Knowing how to extract the best flavor from different grains and being able to vaporize milk with precision, creating different patterns, are just some of the skills currently required of a Barista.
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