Nespresso Professional Annual Student Coffee Challenge 2025
Win a masterclass with chefs Derek Johnstone and David Lilley. Plus a Nespresso M100 single head coffee machine for your college.
Scottish Chefs, in partnership with Nespresso Professional, present the third annual Student Coffee Challenge, hosted at Edinburgh College Milton Campus. Open to full-time Catering and Hospitality students, teams of three (two chefs and one front of house) will have two hours to deliver a full afternoon tea service. Required items include a coffee and walnut cake made with Nespresso Blend (served whole at the table and portioned by the front of house), six cocktail-sized flavoured scones with butters and spreads, one savoury item for six, six rounds of finger sandwiches or mini savoury rolls with various fillings made on the day, the bread can be brought in. Six fruit tarts, and one additional sweet item of the competitors choice. The front of house student will set up a table for four guests an hour before service, welcome them with a non-alcoholic cocktail, engage with guests, present the Nespresso coffee menu, and serve two rounds of coffee. They must not assist with food preparation.
CRITERIA
The judges will be looking for a well laid table with enhanced settings allowed. The front of house server must show good communication and interaction skills with their guests.
The judges will be looking for modern and traditional methods of cookery showing a variation in skills. They will also be looking for hygienic working methods, time plans, communication and teamwork. Food waste must be kept to a minimum, and sustainability must be recognised.
The selection of goods being offered must also show various technical skills to enhance the presentation of products served.
Permitted mise en place
- Pre blind baked tartlets
- Puff pastry.
- Short crust pastry.
- Fruit peeled but not cut.
- Vegetables peeled but not cut.
- Bread and mini rolls.
- All equipment and ingredients MUST be provided by the participating team. This includes all tableware and settings.
- The coffee and walnut element MUST be produced on the day.
OUR JUDGING PANEL
- Joe Queen Chair of The Scottish Chefs Culinary Committee
- Kevin MacGillivray International World Chefs Accredited Judge
- Donna Dowson UK Sales Manager, Nespresso
- Derek Johnstone The first winner of BBC Masterchefs The Professionals
- David Lilley Executive Chef of W Edinburgh & Pastry Chef for The Scottish Culinary Team
THE PRIZE
- A masterclass in their own college with Derek Johnstone and Chef David Lilley
- PLUS winning college will receive a M100 single head coffee machine.
HOW TO ENTER
To register your interest in entering the challenge please email Joe Queen at joe.queen@scottishchefs.com. The closing date for entries is Friday 26th September. Entries will be paper judged and then six teams will make the final which will be held at Edinburgh College Milton Road Campus on Monday 27th October.