ROAST MASTERS IS COMING TO PARIS!

Designed by the creators of Coffee Masters, Roast Masters is the cutting-edge tournament celebrating the best specialty roasters on the planet. 
 
This year, some of the worlds best specialty roasters will compete in teams in a fast-paced, head-to-head, knockout tournament.

Put through their paces by a panel of industry-leading judges in front of a crowd, the ultimate test of skills, know-how and commercial aptitude. This is a unique opportunity to excel in front of key industry players and an international audience. 
 

 

 

DISCIPLINE
 

This year, Roast Masters has officially upped its game with brand new disciplines! Did someone say... LIVE ROASTING? Throughout 4 rounds (qualifying rounds, quarter finals, semi finals and the final) teams will compete in 7 different disciplines.
 
 

​#1 The Cupping Table
>  On day 1 all competitors are given 90 minutes to create a roast profile of the same mystery single origin coffee
> The sample roasts from all competitors will then to be cupped on day 2 by the judges
> The discipline is scored on taste and flavour
> The teams who make it to the Final will present their roasted coffee from day 2 head-to-head on the cupping table
> The two finalist coffees are judged purely on taste and flavour

#2 The Espresso Smackdown
>  Competitors will bring three coffees: a light and a medium single origin and a blend
>  Head-to-head format, three rounds: light vs light, medium vs medium, blend vs blend
>  Best tasting coffees win each round 

#3 The Order Challenge
> Using their own coffees, competitors will make 10 drinks as listed on the presented order within a maximum time of 9 minutes
> The drinks prepared in this discipline are commonly found on specialty café menus
> Each drink will be scored according to wether it is passed or failed by the judges based on balance, extraction, mouthfeel and handling
> A 'passed' drink will be awarded 3 points. A 'failed' drink will be awarded 0 points

#4 The Latte Art Showdown
> Roll the dice, get assigned a shape
>  Pour and win (best of 3)!
>  Judged on appearance

#5 The Brew Face-Off
>  Roasters prepare a filter roast from their own portfolio
> Presented in 15 minutes
>  Judges to judge on taste, presentation and showmanship

#6 The Signature Drink
>  12 minutes to create a signature beverage
>  Mystery ingredients provided on the day
>  Judged on taste, creativity, professionalism, presentation and showmanship
 
#7 The Espresso Blend
>  Roasters are presented with a selection of mystery roasted single origin coffees
> They are tasked to create a bespoke espresso blend
> An espresso and cappuccino will be presented for evaluation
 

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THE MASTERS OF CEREMONY

We are pleased to welcome Daniela, coffee consultant and Meilleur Ouvrier de France Torréfaction among many other skills and experiences, and David, from La Brulerie de Belleville, Roast Masters 2018 winner, and one of the (best) pioneers of specialty coffee in Paris.



Daniela Capuano has a rich history in the field of coffee. Growing up between the coffee trees at her grandparents farm, it might come as little surprise that coffee would get to play a major role in her life. A few years after having started her career as a barista in her home town of Belo Horizonte, Daniela went on to participate in her first barista championships. With success: by winning state championship she got to participate in the national finals.

An American in Paris, David Flynn has been deeply involved in the rise of French specialty coffee. After co founding the celebrated Téléscope Café in the 1st arrondissement of Paris, David launched Belleville Brûlerie Paris in 2013, a specialty coffee roaster with a distinctly French je ne sais quoi. David continues to lead Belleville as CEO focusing on branding and coffee sourcing. A design and philosophy major who stumbled into a career in coffee, David is fascinated by the ways in which coffee culture differs from place to place and committed sharing Specialty Coffee with as many people as possible.



EQUIPMENT

 

The Machine by La Marzocco

Our Roast Masters contestants will be able to flaunt their expertise on the prestigious Linea Classic S by La Marzocco. The clean lines and charm of the Linea Classic occupies many of the cafes, roasteries, and chains whose names have defined the industry. The Linea Classic has helped to forge the world of coffee over the last 3 decades!

 

The Sample Roaster by Stronghold
 

Meet our first ever official live roasting partner, Stronghold, the South Korean innovators in electric roasting technology. Plug-n-Roast with Stronghold's S7 Pro, bringing unparalleled ease and performance to coffee roasting at RM 2023.

 

 

The Grinder by La Marzocco
To ensure the perfect grind, the contestants will also be able to rely the Vulcano Grinder by La Marzocco. Inspired by the original model designed by Giuseppe Bambi that won a design award at the Milan Expo in 1968, the Vulcano grinder brings together La Marzocco‘s distinct retro style with mazzer‘s unparalleled technology. The Vulcano Swift, moreover, like the Swift, grinds, doses and tamps on demand, thereby ensuring consistency and quality.

DM Tech will also make available its EK 43 grinder, a bundle of innovation!
 

 

The Water by Brita
This year again, Brita is the water partner of the Festival!

The Plant-based drinks by Oatly
Oatly are back with a bang to PCF! That’s right, the plant-based baristas have done it again – bringing their line-up of alt-milk drinks to the competition. In ‘The Order’ round of Roast Masters™, our champions will find out just how easy it is to work with a range, which has been developed specifically for baristas. 



The Flavour by Monin

In order to create the ultimate Signature Drink, the Roast Masters-contestants are able to delve into Monin’s treasure box of flavoured syrups. They offers endless possibilities: from cocktails and hot beverages, as well as culinary applications.

The coffee
Roasters United is the supplier of green & roasted coffee to the competition, and Weber Packaging of coffee bags.


 

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Anne Lunell – Head Judge
 
Anne Lunell is a Swedish barista champion and the visionary behind Koppi, an internationally respected and well-loved coffee roaster in the Swedish town of Helsingborg, which she founded in 2007 with Charles Nystrand. Anne is also a experienced juror, heading the panel of Coffee Masters New York and London and Coffee Mixologists and Roast Masters in Amsterdam, and therefore we are so proud to welcome her back for this tournament.
 
Kris Schackman

Growing up in the USA, Kris’ love for coffee started in the mid-1990s while attending the University of Massachusetts and Hampshire College, drinking Scott Rao batch brews by the liter. Soon after moving to Berlin, he co-founded Five Elephant Coffee Roastery & Cake Shop in 2010 with his wife & partner Sophie. Is there anyone more equipped to judge the world’s most allround coffee tournament as this coffee veteran? 

Gabriele Limosani  
 
He experienced the live action first hand last year judging Roast Masters at The Milan Coffee Festival 2022. Flying in from Italy, let us introduce you to Gabriele Limosani, a Q-grader with 10 years of industry experience, passion and pure coffee love under his belt.