NEWTON Abbot local and Bay Tree Cafe barista Oliver Taylor took home second place this weekend in the South West’s first-ever Barista Championships.

Hosted by Owens Coffee, the competition took place in Ivybridge this week, with cafes and roasters putting their best and brightest coffee makers up for the challenge.

Oliver said: ‘I am very passionate about this - I am young but I love my coffee.

‘This is my first barista competition and it is quite daunting but they’ve made us feel comfortable. I get annoyed when people say - it’s just coffee. But when you look at where it is grown and how it’s made there’s so much more to it.’

‘An impressive trophy was presented by the local representative of the organisation Richard Taylor.

‘Huge congratulations to the artists for this welcome accolade judged against a varied entry from all over the South West.’