Filippo Mezzaro crowned 2014 Espresso Italiano Champion
The 2014 Espresso Italiano Champion has been named as Filippo Mezzaro, who beat 14 other baristas to win the prestigious title at the Royal Automobile Club in London.
Each barista had 11 minutes to produce four espressos and four cappuccinos, which were assessed by a panel of technical and sensory judges.
The technical judges graded the baristas on the production of their coffees; whilst the sensory judges assessed the finished coffees.
Mezzaro, who represented roasting company Torrefazione Saturno, was judged to have created the best espresso and cappuccino of the day, with the perfect technique.
"For me, coffee is first of all a passion, but managed with the proper training, it is a much higher quality," said Mezzaro.
The debut event, which was organised by the Italian Espresso National Institute in association with the International Institute of Coffee Tasters and aims to celebrate both the skill of a traditional barista and the origins of Italian espresso.
