COMPETITION & AWARDS
Competition keeps us motivated to innovate, to keep learning, and to refine our craft.
We never want to stop getting better at what we do, and that is why Keen participates in competitions around the world. Competing pulls us out of our comfort zones and forces us to explore coffee from different angles. It brings new ways of thinking and pushes us to experiment with processes and methods. Competition is an accelerator to take the quality of our coffee to the next level.
Are you competing in national championships or do you want to? Get in touch and join the Keen Team!
Dutch Barista Championship 2020 – Pre Rounds Almere
Again, Farrah Tan made it to the Finals of this years Dutch Barista Championship. This year’s level at the pre-rounds was super high with a lot of good baristas aiming for a spot in the finals. Her presentation about flavour perception in coffee that comes from variety, terrior, fermentation and roasting, using our roasted Santa Felisa from Guatemala, was good enough for a spot in the finals. We are excited about what the finals will bring!
World Coffee and Good Spirits Championship 2019 – WOC Berlin
Agnieszka Rowjewska used our El Diamante Azul for the Worlds as well. She got to the finals and used our coffee in combination with her whiskey signature, which she got very high points for. She eventually landed the third place during the finals in Berlin. It was her first year competing in the Coffee & Spirits Championship. Amazing result!
Polish Coffee and Good Spirits Championship 2019 – Opole, Poland
When Agnieszka Rowjewska (WBC champion 2018) saw the run of Mathieu Theis during the Worlds Barista Championships in Boston, she got inspired to use our coffee for her Coffee and Good Spirit championships in Poland. She got a bag of our coffee from Mathieu and with that she won the national championship in Poland. We only found out after she won by using our “El Diamante Azul”!
World Barista Championships 2019 – SCA World of Coffee, Boston 2019
Again we roasted the coffee for Mathieu Theis, the Swiss barista champion, for World of Coffee 2019. He used our ‘El Diamante Azul’ with tones of cinnamon and apple pie. He won 6th place in the finals (out of 60 competitors from across the globe).
Roasting Mathieu’s coffee is our greatest accomplishment yet 🙂
https://worldbaristachampionship.org
World Barista Championships 2018 – World of Coffee 2018
We roasted the coffee that Mathieu Theis, the Swiss barista champion, used for World of Coffee 2018. He placed 1st in both first round and semi-finals, then won 3rd place in the finals (out of 60 competitors from across the globe).
Watch his presentation for yourself at the videos section here.
Dutch Barista Championship 2018 – Barista & Brewers Cup Finals. Amsterdam Coffee Festival
Dagmar Geerlings & Niels te Vaanhold participated the Dutch Barista Championship & the Brewers Cup finals. They used Keen coffees that were specifically selected and sourced for them by our roasters. Dagmar won third place, and Niels fourth. Niels also became the Dutch Cup Tasting champion that same weekend!
Dutch Barista Championship 2017 – Amsterdam Coffee Festival
Coffee bar owner and barista Dagmar Geerlings of Dagger Coffee worked with us to source and roast a coffee worthy of the judges’ points at the renowned Amsterdam Coffee Festival. Keen’s team coached and advised her throughout her preparations and she went on to win second place at the competition.
World Brewers Cup 2016 – World of Coffee Dublin
Rob competed for the world championship again in 2016, this time in Dublin. He prepared a truly unique Costa Rican coffee and, for the first time, he was able to bring Esteban, the farmer who grew the beans he roasted, with him to watch the show. Rob placed 8th out of 40 participating champions from around the globe.
Dutch Brewers Cup 2016 – Amsterdam Coffee Festival
In 2016, Rob became the Dutch brewing champion for the second time. His coffee of choice was a Pacamara from Cafe Granja La Esperanza. He used a Phoenix 70 from Saint Anthony Industries to prepare his award-winning brew.
World Brewers Cup 2015 – World of Coffee Gothenburg
After becoming national champion, Rob competed for the world championship in Gothenburg. He used The Espro Press to prepare his brew. After 2 preliminary rounds, Rob finished fifth out of 30 participating countries.
Dutch Brewers Cup 2015 – Amsterdam Coffee Festival
Our founder Rob Kerkhoff became a national champion brewing a beautiful Cafe de Altura de San Ramon from Costa Rica, roasted by Keen Coffee.
Roasted fresh
every week
Seasonal coffees
selected with care
Ethically sourced
and processed
Always innovating,
never boring