Goda Pangonytè of Ditta Artigianale has won the 2019 Lithuanian Barista Championship at the Vilnius Coffee Festival, held in early February.
At 20 years old, Goda will be the youngest barista to compete in the 2019 World Barista Championship, taking place in Boston, United States from 11 to 14 April.
Goda’s co-worker Vitalija Cvetkova placed second in the competition.
Goda presented El Diamante, an anaerobic micro-lot from Costa Rica, that Ditta Artigianale says produces an exclusive and precious coffee.
Vitalija served Chelecktu from Ethiopia, a selection of a small cooperative, made with a natural brewing process. Ditta Artigianale describes it as a complex coffee that well represents the land it comes from.
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Ditta Artigianale competed in the Lithuanian competition through its local all-female partner Italala Caffè.
“With Italala Caffè, we decided to participate in the championship because these two very talented baristas, Goda and Vitalija, work in the coffee shop,” Ditta Artigianale Owner Francesco Sanapo says. “This excellent debut at the competition and the work of this café are ideal to spread our brand even more and the culture of made-in-Italy specialty coffee.”
Francesco, alongside Šarūnė Paskočimaitė and 2016/17 Lithuanian Barista Champion Laurynas Arlauskas, was responsible for the technical education and coaching of the two finalists, both in their first experience in a coffee competition.
“Ditta Artigianale is proud to be always looking for new talents,” Sanapo says.
“It’s definitely easier to choose experienced baristas to bring them under the spotlight, [but] I find it more exciting to work with the younger guys, who approach this work with commitment, passion and a carefree spirit.”