Following the recent announcement by the World Health Organization (WHO) officially naming the COVID-19 outbreak a pandemic, the Australian Specialty Coffee Association (ASCA) Board has voted to postpone the 2020 Condesa Co Lab Australian Coffee Championships to later in the year. The affected competitions are:
Vitasoy Barista Championship
PaulsProfessional Latte Art Championship
TCX Cup Tasters Championship
STTOKE Brewers Cup
MONIN Coffee in Good Spirits Championship.
The AMC Coffee Roasting Championship preliminary round will still proceed in a closed format offsite.
Ultimately the ASCA board must have the health and safety of not only our community but also the broader community of Australia in mind. It is particularly important when considering the diverse locations the spectators, volunteers, judges and competitors will be travelling from to attend the 2020 Condesa Co Lab Australian Coffee Championships. Many of whom would be flying to South Australia from higher risk areas.
This risk management decision aligns with the response of world governments and other event facilitators who have adopted the strategy of limiting the movement of people to decrease the rapid spread of COVID-19.
At this early stage, ASCA does not have an exact date and location for the rescheduling of the National Championships. The ASCA board is committed to holding the 2020 Condesa Co Lab Australian Coffee Championships in Adelaide if at all possible, however, will review and confirm the new date and location in the coming weeks.
Over the past few weeks, we have been monitoring the outbreak and its impact on the 2020 Condesa Co Lab Australian Coffee Championships. We have sought the best outcomes for all stakeholders who have invested in preparing for these competitions. Thus it was deemed a requirement to announce any postponement by the 13th of March 2020 in fairness to all stakeholders.
Thank you for your understanding in this matter.
Kieran Westlake
ASCA President
