The SCAE's UK chapter in late September announced the dates for the 2010 UK Barista Championships, aiming to provide a spotlight for top British baristas and to drive the quality of coffee served throughout the country.

Baristas will be able to download application forms for the 2010 Championships from November 1 from the newly relaunched SCAE UK website, www.scaeuk.com.

Regional heats in the Championships will begin on January 22 in Northern Ireland (hosted by Johnson Brothers).

Scotland's top barista will be chosen at the heat on January 26, hosted by Matthew Algie.

The Expowest catering exhibition in Exeter, scheduled for February 2-4, will host the South West regional heat, as well as the finals of the UK Latte Art Championship, the UK Coffee in Good Spirits Championship and the UK Cup Tasting Championship.

The Midlands/North regional heat, scheduled for February 16-17, will be hosted by Miko.

Square Mile Coffee will be the host of the final regional heat, for London and the South East, on February 20.

The Hotelympia Show, at London's ExCel Exhibition Centre, will be the host of the 2010 UK Barista Championship semi-final and final rounds, with the semi-finals taking place February 28, and the finals on March 1, when the UK's best barista will be chosen.

Of course, the winner at Hotelympia will then return to London for the World Barista Championship at Caffè Culture, Olympia, June 23-25, joining fellow UK Championship winners chosen at Expowest to take part in the other SCAE World Championships.

The United Kingdom won Best Nation at Wonderful Coffee Cologne last June, placing the highest of all competing nations across the range of SCAE Championships and the WBC.

Further information: www.scaeuk.com