A TRIO of York experts is joining the cream of the country’s café society in a competition to be crowned Britain’s best coffee maker.

It is fingers crossed for York coffee because the eventual winner will get the chance to be an ambassador for their home town or city and the country, by taking part in the world championships in Australia over the summer.

York is the only place outside London to have three entrants vying for the title – café owners Nicola Peacock and Steve Dyson, and coffee-making trainer Dan Fellows.

Winning the UK Barista Championships in London would be a dream come true for Nicola Peacock, boss of Perky Peacock cafes in Gillygate and under Lendal Bridge.

Twenty people will battle it out in the semi-finals on Saturday as part of London Coffee Week, in a bid to become one of six finalists on Sunday.

Competitors have only 15 minutes to dish up four perfect espressos, four cappuccinos and four speciality drinks for judges who will award marks for taste, smell and look.

Nicola, 29, came third in the regional heats earlier this year when she was judged as the best newcomer. She is currently ranked as the 19th barista (coffee maker) in the country.

She said: “When I opened my first coffee shop under Lendal Bridge three years ago, I never imagined I’d be in the running for a competition like this.

“To finish in the top ten on the day would be a dream come true.”

York is making a name for itself for coffee. In November 2012, Dan Fellows, from Bishopthorpe, came fourth in the World Coffee in Good Spirits contests in Seoul.

Dan worked at The Attic bar above Harlequins Café in King’s Square, which won the Beverage Standards Association’s award for best espresso in the UK in 2011.

His boss, Gordon Howell, was just pipped at the post for a place in last year’s UK Barista Championships.

Mr Dyson, of Spring Espresso in Fossgate, will also be aiming for the top title after coming third last year.

Mr Howell, one of this year’s judges, said: “York has not won before so it is fingers crossed for getting York coffee on the world stage.

“Apart from London we are the most represented community by quite some way and Steve has been a finalist for the last two years running.”