The Cold Brew Championship has seen incredible growth since its first edition at PRF Colombia in 2022. Now, on October 17 & 18, 2024, PRF: Farm Summit will proudly host the fifth edition of this exciting competition in Aratoca, Colombia. Competitors will go head-to-head to craft the best cold brew-based beverages for a panel of expert judges.

In the debut competition, Mauricio Romero from Colombia took the title. PRF El Salvador saw a double victory, with Juan Aristizabal from Colombia and Julia Dziadevych from Hungary sharing the top spot. Most recently, at PRF Guatemala 2024, Byron Melendez from El Salvador emerged as the Cold Brew Champion.

The Cold Brew Championship continues to push the boundaries of cold coffee beverages, encouraging creativity and innovation through its signature drink round. It’s an inclusive event that welcomes participants from all levels of the coffee supply chain, not just seasoned baristas or competitors.

This year, Toddy returns as the Official Cold Brew Sponsor for PRF: Farm Summit, providing all necessary equipment for the competition.

Rules & Format

• Orientation Meeting: All registered competitors must attend a mandatory Zoom orientation before PRF: Farm Summit. This session will cover competition rules, setup details, and the schedule, along with a Q&A segment.
• Language: Competitors may present in Spanish or English. Volunteer translators will be available, though no extra time will be allocated for translation.
• Arrival & Cleanliness: To avoid disqualification, competitors must arrive at least 30 minutes before their scheduled time. They are also responsible for maintaining a clean workspace for the next participant.
• Competition Structure:
  • Day One: Competitors prepare their cold brew concentrate.
  • Day Two (Morning): Competitors have time to practice creating their designer drink using the prepared concentrate.
  • Performance: Each competitor has ten minutes to prepare and present their cold brew dilution and designer drink to the judges. They must discuss their coffee selection, brewing variables, and flavour notes and demonstrate strong customer service skills.
  • Completion: The performance time ends when the competitor thanks the judges.

Scoring

Judges are on the lookout for a champion who can:

• Prepare cold brew beverages that meet high-quality standards.
• Deliver exceptional customer service.
• Articulate the sensory experience of their cold brew and designer drinks clearly.
• Provide an outstanding overall coffee and customer service experience.

Judges will evaluate competitors using the following criteria:

• Sensory Score Sheet (scored 1 to 10):
  • Aroma (including an assessment of a ground coffee sample)
  • Flavor
  • Acidity
  • Body
  • Sweetness
  • Balance
  • Overall impression
• Evaluation of Concentrated and Diluted Cold Brew:
  • Sensory evaluation notes for both stages.
• Designer Drink Evaluation:
  • Competitors may give specific instructions on how the beverage should be consumed.
  • Judges will score based on flavour, balance, temperature, mouthfeel, and overall impression.
  • Additional points will be awarded for creativity, design, visual appeal, and whether the drink could be a viable menu item.
• Hygiene: A head judge will assess proper hygiene practices during the competition.

Competitors are expected to be engaging and professional, incorporating elements of real-world coffee service into their presentations. After the competition, all participants will receive a copy of their scoresheets, either digitally or physically.

Prospective competitors must apply in advance and hold a valid PRF: Farm Summit ticket to participate. The registration deadline for the Cold Brew Championship is September 16, 2024.