Vincent Photisen and Mali Phialathyotha from Hudsons Coffee Calvary Hospital Adelaide have been crowned the 2018 Hudsons Coffee Barista Champions.
Following a national tour consisting of more than 52 heats, finalists gathered at Knight Mattingly Coffee Roasters in Coburg North,Victoria, to compete in the National Barista and Latte Art Championships.
The barista team-based finals saw four pairs work together to create four espressos, lattes, and signature beverages over a 15 minute period.
The Calvary Hospital Adelaide team produced a Purple Latte for their signature beverage.
The latte art finals were contested between three competitors from Adelaide, Brisbane and Hobart. Min Li Tiang from Hudsons Coffee Murray Street in Hobart won the competition thanks to her art bar presentation of a whale design.
The ELRA National Coffee Championship judging panel consisted of Ross Quail from Slayer Espresso, three-time Australian Barista Champion Craig Simon of Criteria Coffee, Trent Knox from One Collective Group, Jason Gorgioski from Hudsons Coffee, and Tim Mery from Sweet Espresso.
