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East End market trader wins the coffee cup as Britain's best barista
Mark Prigg10.03.09
A market trader who sells coffee from a barrow in two East End markets has been named Britain's best barista.
Gwilym Davies, 42, beat large coffee shops and family businesses this weekend at the 2009 UK Barista Championship in Glasgow and will represent Britain at the world championships in America next month.
He will travel to Atlanta to take on 50 baristas - expert coffee makers - from around the world.
He works from a small cart in Whitecross Street and Columbia Road markets and today said he hoped his success would lead to a resurgence in London's coffee culture.
Mr Davies said: "It was fantastic to win, and great to bring the title to London, as I think we have a real emerging coffee culture here."
However, he added that because of instant coffee and a lack of training for staff, "the majority of Londoners still don't know what proper coffee tastes like. It's impossible to describe, but it should just taste fresh."
Mr Davies began making coffee 11 years ago in New Zealand. Although it began as a part-time job, he said he soon realised it was "a proper career", and returned to Britain to set up his business.
Mr Davies said: "I'm hoping that as next year the world barista championships are here in London we can really start to take coffee more seriously."
Reader views (12)
hey,
have you seen that solar powered coffee shop in Finsbury Sq. Totally green and he makes a mean coffee the frappes are delis. everything is green and the waste from the machine goes to allotments cool . It`s him and gwliyn that are proving good coffee can be cheaper. The thrid wave is hear, so long high st chains I forgot his name but i think it`s called the froth..
- James, london
Amazing Coffee....simply the best.
- St, London
Great to hear. Would anyone know what sort of trading licence he has?
- Bab, london
He knows how to make a good flat-white and that's pretty much unheard of round these parts...
- Ac, London
Thank goodness the art of coffee-making is finally being taken seriously. Like any art, it takes time and dedication to master your chosen skill, and Gwilym is proof that you dont need fancy spaces to produce sublime drinks-Well done!!
- Alice Edgcumbe-Rendle, Arundel, west sussex
A bunch of us Aussies and Kiwis love heading to his coffee cart on Whitecross St for a coffee. We were all so delighted and relieved to find someone in London who could make a decent (well, in his case, much more than decent!) coffee. Glad he's got the recognition he deserves!!
- Happy Coffee Drinker, London
His coffee is great and best of all an espresso is 60p. Not the ridiculous 1.20/1.30 everyone else charges for burnt mud water
- Jon, London, UK
Ah yes Squiz
The Welsh are world renowned for their coffee.
- Robyn, Clerkenwell
"Well he's Welsh so he's bound to be good and his tea even better"
Never a truer word written.
- Glyn, Hackney
I'll make sure to look him up next time I'm in the East End! It's a refreshing change from chainstore marketing ...
- Marianne, SW France
My favourite cuppa....the coffee cart near Shoreditch church. Its a `hit` spot on all my walks around London`s ancient markets.
Sandra
- Sandra Shevey, London
Well he's Welsh so he's bound to be good and his tea even better.
- Squiz, islington
