
How Much Is Coffee Waste Costing Your Coffee Business? (And How Can You Reduce It?)
July 15, 2026
How Much Is Coffee Waste Costing Your Coffee Business? (And How Can You Reduce It?)
July 15, 2026Following the UK Barista Championship 2026, we sat down with members of the SCA-UK board (2024-2026) and UKBC '26 Competitors for a relaxed conversation about the competition, the work that goes on behind the scenes and what can be learned from taking part.
The discussion offers an honest look at the SCA-UK competitions from both the competitors and organisational sides, covering the preparation involved, the challenges that come with putting on an event of this scale, and the experience of being part of the wider competition coffee community.
It is also a useful watch for anyone considering entering a coffee competition themselves, with practical thoughts on what to expect, how to approach the experience and what competitors can take away from getting involved.
Whether you work in speciality coffee, are thinking about competing or simply want to understand more about what goes into an event like the UK Barista Championship, this is a chance to hear the conversation from people who have experienced it first-hand.
In this conversation
We cover:
- What goes into organizing and delivering the SCA-UK events
- The realities of preparing for and taking part in competitions
- Lessons learned from the championship
- The value of coffee competitions for skills, development and the wider industry
- Practical advice for anyone thinking about entering
- What competitors can gain from the experience beyond the final result
We thank Graziano Monori, Will Martins, John Townsend for sharing their expertise with us, alongside with the competitors Laura Metcalfe and Christopher So for walking us through their experience when competing.
Watch the full conversation below.













