Recommended Movies for Coffee Beginners: Is "Coffee Wars" Worth Watching?

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The Coffee War Film: A Revolution in Plant-Based Milk

According to the latest news, the new film "The Coffee War" will be released on March 7th on iTunes, Prime Video, and Google Play platforms.

Unlike previous coffee films, this movie aims to raise awareness about the plant-based market and protest against the World Barista Championship (WBC) regulation that prohibits plant-based milks from competitions. Filming began in early 2022.

The film tells the story of Joe, a vegan enthusiast who opens a coffee shop offering only plant-based milks and vegan options. Despite Joe's excellent coffee-making skills, many customers leave after discovering only vegan/plant-based options are available. As a result, Joe's business struggles severely, facing operational crisis and accumulating debt.

Frustrated that many talented baristas are overlooked due to their vegan choices, Joe becomes determined to participate in the WBC competition. He hopes to increase understanding of veganism and ensure that excellent baristas aren't missed due to their preference for plant-based milks.

Joe then leads his vegan team through various challenges to reach the WBC finals. Many doubt that plant-based milks can gain judges' approval when competing with traditional dairy milk.

However, Joe refuses to give up, finally having the opportunity to demonstrate that exceptional results can be achieved with plant-based milks in a traditionally dairy-dominated competition, and that vegan baristas deserve recognition and respect...

A Revolutionary Change in Coffee Competition

This film hopes to draw more attention to the vegan market and protest against the long-standing unfair practice of the World Barista Championship (WBC) not allowing plant-based milks to participate in competitions.

Perhaps unexpectedly, in December 2022, the Specialty Coffee Association (SCA) released the latest rules and regulations for the 2023 World Barista Championship (WBC), permitting plant-based milks to compete alongside dairy milks.

The SCA's decision came after criticism from industry professionals and competitors about the lack of inclusivity, accessibility, and fairness in these prestigious competitions that significantly influence the specialty coffee market. Faced with mounting pressure, the SCA finally permitted plant-based milks in future competitions.

Before the SCA's announcement, baristas from various countries had already been disqualified from regional competitions for insisting on using plant-based milks.

Many coffee industry professionals noted that these competitions should be fair and just, serving as leaders in the specialty coffee industry. Disqualifying talented baristas simply because they don't consume dairy milk means missing out on many potentially exceptional competitors.

The Complexities of Judging Milk-Based Beverages

The SCA had long prohibited plant-based milks and other non-dairy alternatives from WBC competitions due to the significant challenges they pose for judges' sensory evaluation. The new rules mean competitors can use any type of commercially available plant-based milk, including oat, soy, almond, coconut, and even plant-based milk blends.

Each type of milk uniquely impacts the flavor and texture of beverages, making the evaluation and scoring of milk-based drinks more complex and requiring new judging criteria.

Creating rules that ensure fair competition between plant-based and dairy milks is no easy task, requiring extensive time and human resources. This explains why the SCA had remained silent on plant-based milk usage for so many years.

However, in recent years, competitors have also been using highly processed milks. For example, 2022 WBC champion Anthony Douglas used frozen, purified milk to enhance the sweetness of coffee.

By applying milk freeze-drying technology to extract milk powder with 900% purity, then mixing it with milk at a 1:10 ratio, the sugar, fat, and protein content in the milk were doubled. Heating the milk to 55 degrees Celsius activated its high sweetness.

Coffee made with this specially prepared milk could still be judged using standard milk-based coffee scoring criteria, which further fueled criticism from those supporting plant-based milks. They questioned the SCA's concerns and strongly demanded that plant-based milks be allowed in competition.

Regarding Joe's performance in the film and the 2023 WBC competition, this writer is filled with anticipation!

Image source: Internet

Recommended Coffee Films and Documentaries

It's the weekend, so let me recommend several coffee-related films and documentaries to watch:

"A Film About Coffee" - This 67-minute documentary takes viewers through every role in the specialty coffee supply chain, from coffee growers, traders, and baristas to consumers. Each character strives to produce more high-quality coffee.

"Inside the Factory: Coffee" - To understand the coffee industry, you can't focus solely on specialty coffee. Instant, freeze-dried, and ready-to-drink coffees are actually the highest-selling products in the coffee industry.

"Black Coffee" - In 174 minutes, this film explores how coffee evolved from an obscure plant to become an inseparable part of modern society, politics, and daily life.

"The Coffee Man" & "Barista" - "Barista" documents the extensive preparation work that baristas undertake before competitions, including reading psychology and philosophy books, practicing presentation skills (such as tone, intonation, and expressions), all to create compelling presentations that move judges.

"The Coffee Man" tells the story of Sasa, the 2015 WBC champion, showing how he collaborated with coffee farmers to improve coffee quality, continuously improved his skills, and ultimately won the WBC championship.

"The Story of Chinese Coffee" - Set against the backdrop of Yunnan, China, this documentary helps viewers understand the cultivation, harvesting, and processing of Yunnan coffee. Beyond learning about coffee knowledge, it also provides deeper insights into Chinese coffee culture.

"Coffee Or Tea?" - This film tells the story of three young people who, through a series of coincidences, start a coffee farming business together in Yunnan. The three protagonists use their passion, sincerity, and skills to gradually gain recognition for Yunnan coffee, demonstrating that Yunnan coffee represents a promising path for future development.

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