Drew's brew scoops top barista award!
A coffee expert whose tongue is insured for £10 million was recently wowed by the creation of an Athlone-based barista.
Drew Farnon, who works at Costa Coffee in the Golden Island Shopping Centre, won the 'best speciality drink' award at Costa's international 'Barista of the Year' competition held in England last month.
The head judge of the competition was Gennaro Pelliccia, Coffee Master for the Costa chain, who had his tongue insured for £10 million with Lloyd's of London in 2009.
Gennaro was hugely impressed with Drew's 'Mocha Indulgence' concoction, which is an an espresso shot with 99% cocoa Lindt chocolate, orange zest and nutmeg.
Mr Pelliccia told Drew that hers was the best speciality drink to have been developed in the twelve-year history of the competition.
Speaking to the Westmeath Independent on Monday, Drew said she was stunned when her name was announced as the winner of the 'best speciality drink' title.
"I was genuinely in shock, but it was amazing. I'll never forget it for as long as I live," she said.
A native of Ballinasloe, Drew has been working for Costa in Athlone for the last two and a half years.
Her involvement in the Barista of the Year competition started last year, when she was successful at the Irish championships in September.
In October, she travelled to England for the UK & Irish championships. On the first day, as she visited Costa's massive roastery in Essex, she suffered an unexpected setback.
"We were getting a tour of the roastery and I was walking, and not looking where I was going, when I split my head open off a door!"
Drew ended up spending three hours in hospital, and thought it was the end of her journey in the competition, but she was able to come back and compete the next day, finishing in the top five and securing qualification to the world finals held in Essex and in London on January 23 and 24.
The event was streamed live over the internet and, with friends watching on from Ireland, Drew secured the prestigious award. The competition asks baristas to produce four drinks for the judges in ten minutes, showcasing the Mocha Italia coffee blend which Costa produces.
Drew said she chose the cocoa, orange and nutmeg additions to her creation in order to complement the chocolate flavours, citric acidity, and dry finish of the coffee beans.
She returned home to a great reception from her colleagues in Athlone and fielded congratulatory calls from the company's head office.
Drew's passion for coffee shines through in conversation and she said she hopes to continue her involvement in barista competitions in the coming years.
"I love it. In Ireland, outside of Dublin, speciality coffee is only just starting to take off now but there's a whole world of competitive baristas out there," she said.