BeanScene – August 2019

W

hen Daniel Horbat,

Trainer and

Consultant of Coffee

Laboratory in Dublin,

was announced the

2019 Cup Tasters Champion after four

years of competing, he felt all his hard work

and sacrifice had finally paid off.

“Each year, I felt more motivated to

come back stronger than before and I

knew that I will only stop until I leave with

a trophy,” Daniel says. Part of his success

was down to his rigorous training and diet.

“I trained for five months until my

taste buds got comfortable with different

coffee profiles. I didn’t want anything to

take me by surprise,” Daniel says. “I knew

from previous competitions I had to cut

out anything that would negatively impact

my palate, including salt, spices, sweets,

alcohol, and smoking. They all had to go.”

Leading up to World of Coffee, Daniel

dedicated every day tasting different

coffees until he consistently achieved a

perfect result.

On the day, Daniel says tensions were

running so high he was almost unaware he

had qualified for the final round.

“It was the most unexpected reaction

when I qualified into the final. Out of

nowhere I burst into tears. I went into

the final challenge emotionally ready and

liberated,” Daniel says.

“After I tasted all of the coffees and

pushed all the winning cups behind the

line and shouted time, I realised what just

happened and I couldn’t shake the feeling

of achievement.”

Cup tasting is a test of a keen palate

where competitors pit their wits against

each other, picking out the off coffee from

three cups, moving on to the next against

the clock. Daniel finished with a seven out

of eight with the fastest time of two minutes

and 33 seconds.

“When I realised I won I felt relieved,

honestly, I was happy it was over. I

reached a goal I was aiming for so many

years,” Daniel says.

“I gave up everything to reach my goal.

It’s somehow a confirmation that all the

hard work I put in, paid off.”

Daniel says what drew him to cup

tasting was the unique and challenging way

to test his palate. He encourages others

baristas to compete.

“I entered the Cup Tasters

Championship because I was always

attracted to the sensory part of the coffee

business. Every time I drank coffee, I would

try to figure out what flavours and aromas I

could find in there,” Daniel says.

“The biggest competition is yourself.

Don’t let failure be a reason to give up.

Learn from the mistakes and work hard.”

Daniel Horbat

2019 WORLD CUP

TASTERS CHAMPION

DanDaDDDDDDDDDanD ielielellHoHoHoHHHoHoHoHHHoorbarbarbarbaatit t itittt ststs tsttthe heheheheheheee 201201201201000000 99 9 9999

WWWo rWo rWWWWoWWWo rold ldldldCupCupCupCupTaTTaTaastestesteters rs rsChaChaChampimpmpimpim onon.on.onn

ImaIma

ge:ge:

KrKr

istist

apsapsps

sSepsSeSeSesSeSeSeSeS

lgalgalgalgalgagalgalgalga

, WWWW, W, W, W, W, WW

CECECECECECECECECEC

Made with whole rolled oats, Califia Farms

Oat Barista Blend is unsweetened

(no added sugar) and has no gums or stabilisers.

RICH & CREAMY • DOES NOT SPLIT • BETTER LATTE ART

W

hen Daniel Horbat,

Trainer and

Consultant of Coffee

Laboratory in Dublin,

was announced the

2019 Cup Tasters Champion after four

years of competing, he felt all his hard work

and sacrifice had finally paid off.

“Each year, I felt more motivated to

come back stronger than before and I

knew that I will only stop until I leave with

a trophy,” Daniel says. Part of his success

was down to his rigorous training and diet.

“I trained for five months until my

taste buds got comfortable with different

coffee profiles. I didn’t want anything to

take me by surprise,” Daniel says. “I knew

from previous competitions I had to cut

out anything that would negatively impact

my palate, including salt, spices, sweets,

alcohol, and smoking. They all had to go.”

Leading up to World of Coffee, Daniel

dedicated every day tasting different

coffees until he consistently achieved a

perfect result.

On the day, Daniel says tensions were

running so high he was almost unaware he

had qualified for the final round.

“It was the most unexpected reaction

when I qualified into the final. Out of

nowhere I burst into tears. I went into

the final challenge emotionally ready and

liberated,” Daniel says.

“After I tasted all of the coffees and

pushed all the winning cups behind the

line and shouted time, I realised what just

happened and I couldn’t shake the feeling

of achievement.”

Cup tasting is a test of a keen palate

where competitors pit their wits against

each other, picking out the off coffee from

three cups, moving on to the next against

the clock. Daniel finished with a seven out

of eight with the fastest time of two minutes

and 33 seconds.

“When I realised I won I felt relieved,

honestly, I was happy it was over. I

reached a goal I was aiming for so many

years,” Daniel says.

“I gave up everything to reach my goal.

It’s somehow a confirmation that all the

hard work I put in, paid off.”

Daniel says what drew him to cup

tasting was the unique and challenging way

to test his palate. He encourages others

baristas to compete.

“I entered the Cup Tasters

Championship because I was always

attracted to the sensory part of the coffee

business. Every time I drank coffee, I would

try to figure out what flavours and aromas I

could find in there,” Daniel says.

“The biggest competition is yourself.

Don’t let failure be a reason to give up.

Learn from the mistakes and work hard.”

Daniel Horbat

2019 WORLD CUP

TASTERS CHAMPION

ieleel rbarbattiiistss tsthhhhhh 2 2 12 1 99

oldld up astesteters h onn

Madewithwholerolledoats,CalifiaFarms

OatBaristaBlendis unsweetened

(noaddedsugar)andhasnogumsorstabilisers.

RICH& CREAMY • DOESNOTSPLIT • BETTERLATTEART