BRITA Professional stirs up coffee shop creativity

BRITA Professional has announced the return of its Grounds of Innovation competition for the third consecutive year, recognising coffee shops across the UK that deliver exceptional experiences and innovative offerings within their communities. The winner will be awarded a prize worth £1,000 to further fuel their commitment to innovation.

With over 50 years of expertise in water filtration, BRITA Professional is committed to supporting the coffee industry in delivering the perfect cup every time, according to the company. Amid challenges such as rising coffee bean prices, energy costs and supply chain disruptions, the competition aims to celebrate the independent coffee shops across the UK that are finding new solutions to stay resilient and deliver exceptional experiences.

The 2025 competition, running from 31st March to 23rd June, is supported by a distinguished panel of coffee industry experts:

• Christopher Hopkin, head of engineering at Alchemy Coffee
• Ben Lewis, content creator and award-winning barista and latte artist
• Mother Espresso, Liverpool based coffee shop and 2024 first place winners
• Batch Baby, London based coffee shop and 2024 top 10 winner
• Carnival Coffee, London based coffee shop and 2024 top 10 winner
• Paul Whitehead, BRITA business account manager and latte art champion
• Emma Field, BRITA account manager and coffee specialist

Mother Espresso, last year’s winner, was celebrated for its creative use of surplus products, such as brewing kombucha from coffee leaves. A representative from Mother Espresso said, “We were incredibly pleased to be nominated, to then go on to win was a very happy surprise! We’ve always strived to create a unique experience for our customers, and the award is a fantastic validation of the hard work and passion we’ve all put into it.”

The 2025 competition winner will receive an exclusive latte art masterclass with award-winning barista, Ben Lewis, a sensory session with a BRITA water sommelier, a BRITA bundle featuring a year’s supply of filters and a premium coffee package from Carnival Coffee Roasters. The winner will be revealed on 15th September.

The top three finalists will win a PURITY C iQ filter from BRITA, the world’s first data-driven, intelligent filtration system designed to ensure cafés deliver consistently great tasting coffee. All top 10 finalists will receive a Grounds of Innovation winner’s plaque to display in their premises.

Samantha Scoles, sales director at BRITA Professional and qualified water sommelier, added, “This year, we look forward to celebrating more coffee shops that not only serve great coffee but also contribute meaningfully to their communities. Last year’s entries were incredibly inspiring, from a roastery helping supporting prison leavers with skills, to a café supporting female-owned roasteries, we are excited to see the creativity and versatility of this year’s entries.

“We are proud to continuously support the industry, not only through Grounds of Innovation, but by also delivering exceptional-tasting coffee through our market-leading filtration technology. This ensures that businesses can consistently provide their customers with a top-tier experience while protecting their coffee machines day in and day out.”

To find out more and to enter this year’s competition, visit: brita.co.uk/grounds-of-innovation-2025