Beverage Standards Awards 2012 - Be the Best and Know More

BSA 2013 Awards - Register Your Interest

BE THE BEST

The Beverage Standards Association
Our Approach to Rewarding Beverage Excellence 

The Beverage Standards Awards are designed to communicate a valuable and fair assessment of any establishment serving hot beverages. They benefit the entrant’s owners and staff, the paying public and their customers.

This dual approach offers those entering the awards an objective, expert assessment of drinks quality whilst also taking into consideration, service standards and the environment in which they are being served.

This page aims to answer all questions about the awards structure, their objectives and the assessment process.From these assessor findings, the Awards committee will choose the Best Drinks Awards nationally over 7 different hot drink categories.

Testimonial “The awards are an excellent tool to push the standards of a business higher whilst offering a unique opportunity to receive feedback on many aspects of your business. In the time of a recession this also helps to give the business every chance of success in the future.” Rebecca Stone, Owner of the Bottle Kiln, West Hallam. Winner of Best Cappuccino 2011 and a 5 cup Accreditation

How the accreditation system works?
Every assessor works to a standard questionnaire created by the Beverage Standards Association. Three separate drinks are assessed for each entry and marked for taste, temperature and presentation. These marks account for 75% of the total drinks value for accreditation. The remaining 25% of points are assessed against 29 questions covering a range of Customer Services and Environmental Factors. These factors include, staff reception, personnel knowledge, cleanliness of tables, floors, surrounds, machine and preparation area hygiene, toilets, child and disabled facilities. For the first time we are also examining environmental sustainability programmes in place.

Based on the points awarded, each entry will be awarded a percentage score, on which their cup banding will be decided.

The Accredited Cup Standards are

1 Cup: Good 2 Cup: Very Good 3 Cup: Excellent 4 Cup: Exceptional 5 Cup: Outstanding

Read about the Assessment criteria by clicking here

There are two principal Award Categories:-
This is made up of the BSA's unique 5 cup grading™ scheme.
Sponsored by
 

Every entry will be assessed by a BSA expertly trained assessor who will visit unannounced as a mystery shopper.

There are 7 National Best Drink Awards:

Best Drinks Awards
2.1 Best small Espresso		2.2 Best Cappuccino
2.3 Best Latte		2.4 Best Flat White Coffee
2.5 Best Filter or Cafetiere Coffee		2.6 Best Tea
2.7 Best Hot Chocolate

How the Best Drinks Awards are assessed?

On the Nomination Form, at Step 3, owners, directors or the senior manager authorised, selects three drinks to be assessed.
Drink 1 must always be, single small Espresso.
Drink 2 will be one of, Cappuccino or Latte or Flat White or Filter Coffee/Cafetiere Coffee.
Drink 3 can be either, Hot Chocolate or Tea.

Each Best Drink Award is based on the drinks points, only assessed on Page 1 of the judging form. These take account of
Taste, Temperature and Presentation. The Services and Environmental Factors on Page 2 of the assessors form for the Accreditation Awards are not taken into account.
The national winner for each of the award drink categories will be the entry having the highest points scored over a number of assessor visits in 2012.

Testimonial “It is difficult to ascertain the actual impact but safe to say, word of mouth and a sense of pride from our regular custom has increased and the number of new customers is on the up." As well, it has given us "A combination of acknowledgement, confidence, respect and credibility." Gordon Howell, The Attic at The Harlequin, York. Winner of Best Espresso 2011 and a 5 cup Accreditation

Benefits earned by Entries

1) Every Accredited Entry whether or not they are assessed for a Cup Standard will receive an official written Feedback
from the Beverage Standards Awards Chairman. This document will summarise the assessors findings in a consultant report covering:-
• The Drinks assessed.
• Customer Services and Environmental Factors assessed.
• Recommendations where Improvements might be made.
• The report will go to the Entry Contact, signing the nomination form, and to the Nominator, if different.
2) Every Accredited Cup Standard entry will receive:-
• A Certificate confirming the Cup Standard achieved.
• Decal sticker in the shape of a cup promoting the Cup Grading assessed. This should be stuck to a door or window of the entry establishment to inform the public of their achievement. Entrants may display this decal for a period of 12 months from October 2012.
3) Each Best Drink Award Winner will receive a Wall Plate and a Decal Sticker confirming and promoting their achievement. The sticker is designed to be placed on the front door or window of the winning establishment announcing to passers-by that here good beverages are served. Winners may display their decal for a period of 12 months from October 2012.

Awards Publicity

1) The awards are promoted by the BSA from February 2012.
• Through their own website and social media activity.
• Through BSA members.
• Through PR arranged by the BSA.
• Through national and local press and magazines.
• Through Sponsors working with the Beverage Standards Awards.

2) At an Awards Dinner in London on 20th September 2012, in conjunction with Lunch! Exhibition, the leading 4 and 5 Cup Accredited Establishments and the Best Drinks Winners will be introduced and presented with their awards. This event will generate publicity for the recipients in the media.
The results will be announced on the BSA website.
A complete 1-5 Cup Accreditation listing will be created on the BSA website and released to the national and local press.

Who Can Enter?

Cafes, Tea Shops, Restaurants, Cafes within hotels or bars, Mobiles, Beverage Carts, Industrial/Works beverage sites, Service Areas.
• Entries may be individually owned or part of a national group.
• Nomination of entries may be by owners, their suppliers, companies, customers, or consultants by completing a nomination form.
• One entry fee covers both the National Grading Cup Accreditation and all National Best Drink Awards.
• Entrants and Nominees may be BSA or Non-BSA Members.

The Awards are closed for 2012. 
The Accreditations and "Best Drinks" Awards were announced at Power Road Studios on Thursday, 20th September. You can see a full list of winners by clicking here.

Be the Best! 

Updated: Friday, 21st September 2012