My first Barista Champs was a fantastic experience. Not from the business side of the espresso machine, but the viewing side.
It was a fantastically supportive environment with a small but very enthusiastic following. What surprised me the most was the professionalism of all the baristas and judges. Long gone are the days of scruffy kids turning up with torn shorts and their skateboards. This is a serious business now.
Congratulations to all those involved running such a thoroughly entertaining and educational weekend. All thirty competing baristas, thirty judges, sponsors, organisers, MCs David Burton & Carl Sara, forty volunteers and supporters.
Carl Sara has won the NZ Barista Championships four times and went onto being awarded the highest placing by any NZ competitor at the World Barista Champs - third place in 2002.
The Sponsors include naming rights to Huhtamaki, equipment sponsors Nuova Simonelli and Mahlkoenig, milk sponsor Meadow Fresh. Natvia, Cafetto & DaVinci Gourmet.
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| Aymon McQuade |
In a tense and closely fought battle for the title Aymon McQuade was named Huhtamaki NZ Barista Champion 2012. Aymon is from member company Bell Tea & Coffee. His coffee was sourced while on an origin tour in El Salvador & Colombia last year.
Second place went to Chloe Zhou from Crafted Coffee in Christchurch.
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| Chloe Zhou |
Nick Clark from Flight Coffee/Memphis Belle Cafe in Wellington was third place.
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| Nick Clark from Flight Coffee |
Some of our favourite pics from the weekend:
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| The Renouf Foyer at the Michael Fowler Centre |
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| The vivacious Claris Jones-White from Pomeroy's Coffee & Tea in Nelson |
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| The stage set with Nuova Simonelli & Mahlkoenig equipment |
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Carl Sara keeps us informed throughout the competition.
You can see Masako Yamamoto's trolley waiting for setup in the foreground. |
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| Brendon Neilson from Espresso Workshop, Auckland |
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| Masako Yamamoto trolley complete with oranges for the zest oils to complement her coffee choice |
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| Judging time |
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| Just the right amount of pressure |
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| Brendon Neilson from Espresso Workshop, Auckland |
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| Masako Yamamoto's table presentation |
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| Judges score |
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| Water, the important partner to coffee |
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| Smokey notes to highlight the coffees strengths |
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| The Finals arena |
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| Huhtamaki cups ready to keep the spectators happy |
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| Happy Barista for the spectators |
