Watch as the best baristas in New Zealand compete to become the Meadow Fresh New Zealand Barista Champion 2018. The national heats start on Saturday 14 April and continue with the top six final round on Sunday 15 April at Expressions Arts and Entertainment Centre, Upper Hutt, Wellington.
Twenty of New Zealand’s most talented baristas will contend in a bid to win the national title and the opportunity to represent New Zealand at the World Barista Championship 2018 in Amsterdam this June. The aim is to establish who is deserving of the coffee equivalent of an OSCAR for best performance as a barista in New Zealand according to a specific set of rules.
Each barista’s 15-minute demonstration will be scored on the taste of beverages served, cleanliness, creativity, technical skill, and overall presentation. The ever-popular signature drink allows baristas to stretch their imagination and the judges’ palates to incorporate a wealth of coffee knowledge into an expression of their individual tastes and experiences. It is going to be intense viewing: grab your free tickets, make sure you stay well-caffeinated and enjoy the spectacle!
The World Barista Championship focuses on promoting excellence in coffee, advancing the barista profession, and engaging a worldwide audience with an annual Championship that serves as the culmination of events around the globe involving more than sixty nations.
The New Zealand Specialty Coffee Association (NZSCA) is the national representative for World Coffee Events, the owners of the World Barista Championship. The NZSCA was formed in 2005 and is the industry body for specialty coffee stakeholders in New Zealand.
