MARKET trader Gwilym Davies is full of beans after winning the world coffee making championship. Gwilym, who runs a modest coffee cart at Columbia Road Sunday street-market in London’s East End, has been named the 2009 World Barista Champion at Atlanta

By Else Kvist

MARKET trader Gwilym Davies is full of beans after winning the world coffee making championship.

Gwilym, who runs a modest coffee cart at Columbia Road Sunday street-market in London’s East End, has been named the 2009 World Barista Champion at Atlanta, USA.

He called the East London Advertiser from America saying he had reached the final along with coffee champs from five other countries.

Then a few hours later came the news that he had lifted the trophy while holding the Union Jack.

OVERWHELMED

“I’m a bit overwhelmed at the moment,” he beamed. “It was great to represent the UK—but also all market traders in East London. Now I’m looking forward to coming home.”

The 42-year-old who lives on a River Lea houseboat in East London already caused a stir in the coffee world earlier this year, beating large coffee houses and family businesses in the national UK Barista Championship in Glasgow.

The father-of-one represented Britain—and the East End—at the weekend during the world championship finals in Atlanta in which 52 expert coffee makers competed for the title.

Each competitor served four espressos, four cappuccinos and four original personal’ drinks to exacting standards in 15-minute performances.

Canada came second and the USA third. That means next year’s annual World Championship will be in London.