Barista Bobby full of beans
Fresh from securing 40th place at world tasting champs, Bay man has plans to open coffee shop
SIMPHIWE “Bobby” Adams hopes to use his new status as the world’s 40th best barista to open a coffee shop at the Kenako Mall in New Brighton. Adams, 27, of Kwazakhele, returned from Hungary on June 16 from the World Cup Tasting Competition.
The championship awards the professional coffee cupper who demonstrates speed, skill and accuracy in distinguishing the taste differences in speciality coffees.
“There are people I meet and talk to on a daily basis who are going to assist me in opening a coffee shop at the mall,” Adams said.
He is even more eager to teach other baristas around the Bay and impart some of the knowledge he gained at the world championships.
He took part in the cup tasting category, where he had to identify the different types of beans brewed.
“It was my first time travelling to another part of the world and I’m so glad that this had to do with my passion,” Adams said.
He was the winner of the South African National Cup Tasting Competition in Midrand in May.
“The rules were the same as the ones used at national level, so with all the training and all the competing I had done I was at least familiar with a few things,” Adams said.
He said the competition was harder than he had expected.
“There were a few challenges I encountered,” Adams said. “They have what they call high-rated coffee and speciality coffee, which I had not tasted before.
“Also, the standard of this competition compared with the national one was much higher.”
He said competing at international level reminded him that he had a long road ahead in learning more.
Asked what he had taken away from the competition, he said: “What I learnt there I will always use when training others.”
Adams started working at the Blue Waters Cafe in Summerstrand at the age of 17.
“That was back in 2007. At that time I was just a boy who wanted work, any type of work,” he said.
He was clearing tables, but he knew he wanted more out of life.
“One day I saw this big, weird-looking machine that I later found out makes coffee,” he said.
The then owner decided to open up another restaurant, La Vela Cafe, and Adams was recruited as the official barista.
“At La Vela Cafe, I got more training from professional baristas in Port Elizabeth,” Adams said.
“They taught me the origins of the coffee beans and where types of coffee come from.
“Soon, I started entering competitions.”
Diedre Allen, owner of Sumatran Premium Coffee and Adams’s new boss, said it was an incredible experience for him.
“He had the opportunity to compete against the best cup tasters in the world, sharing what coffee is like in our own country,” she said.
“I can see that his trip was an extremely important learning curve for him.
“He is now ready to do so much within the coffee industry.”