Valentyn is preparing to compete in the SCA UK Cup Tasters Championship, where success hinges on more than just a sharp palate— as he walks us through a typical training session, he tells us of the importance of mental clarity and focus. The goal? To spot the subtle difference between three coffees at a time, under the watchful eye of spectators, judges, even a live stream. It’s a sensory battle, demanding focus amidst the energy of the Bristol Coffee Festival where the heat is being held this weekend.
Competing against the sharpest palates in the UK coffee scene is no walk in the park. Valentyn’s training embodies mind, body and palate, sharpening his ability to tune into the smallest flavour nuances. Preparation includes a carefully curated competition diet with very little flavour and strictly no alcohol, timed blind tastings multiple times per day and a weekly session of indoor snowboarding, for mental clarity we’re told. (The adventure never stops).
In the roastery, Valentyn set’s up his table tells us through what will be asked of him on the day. Participants face four sets of triangles—three cups of coffee where two are identical, and one is different—with just four minutes to identify the odd one out in each set. By the finals, this escalates to eight sets, with the differences between coffees becoming more and more subtle, speed and accuracy are key. Contestants lift each cup, hoping to reveal a gold dot at the base that confirms they've identified correctly.
The competition can be viewed on YouTube for those that want to keep updated with the latest scores.
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