The New Zealand Specialty Coffee Association (NZSCA) will host the 2018 Meadow Fresh New Zealand Barista Champion this weekend at Expressions Arts and Entertainment Centre.
New Zealand’s best baristas will compete on stage in an effort to win the coveted Champion title and represent their country on the world stage at the World Barista Championship in Amsterdam in June.
The national heats will take place from 11am to 4pm on Saturday 14 April.
The competitor lineup in the heats (in random order) includes:
11:00am Logan Collinge, Mojo Coffee Cartel, Wellington
11:25am Frank Hsu, Franks, Wellington
11:50am Nico Refiti, Ozone Coffee Roasters, New Plymouth
12:15pm Brittany Cox, Down The Road Eatery & Deli, Whangarei
12:40pm Grace Choi, McCafe, Rotorua
1:05pm Bonnie Lam, The Coffee Shack, Wanaka
1:30pm Matthew Ross, Excelso, Tauranga
1:55pm John Gordon, Gorilla Gear, Auckland
2:20pm Nara Lee, Hand Picked Coffee, Auckland
The finals will commence from 11am to 4pm on Sunday 15 April, starting from 11am.
The final announcement and trophy presentation will take place from 3.30pm.
The 2017 NZ Barista Champion, Dove Chen, will also be helping serve member-company coffees at the event, including a selection of soft brewed and espresso-based coffees from different origins. A casual latte art smackdown for novices and professionals with plenty prizes is also up for grabs.
Spectator entry is free. Cheer on the country’s best barista talent at 836 Fergusson Drive, Upper Hutt, Wellington.
Sponsors of the event include Meadow Fresh, Amc Roastery Supply, Victoria Arduino via Espresso Mechanics/Atomic Coffee, Marco Brewers via L’affare, Cafetto, Castaway and Acme & Co.
For more information, click here.
Photo credit: Dianne Wang