National Barista Awards Call For Entries

26th April 2006

National Barista Awards Call For Entries

The sixth annual National Barista Awards, brought to you by Robert Harris, calls all budding, passionate and professional baristas to prove their skills to the world! The first of four regional heats will kick off in Christchurch on June 26th, as New Zealand’s only World Accredited Competition scours the country for this year’s best barista.

Baristas from anywhere in New Zealand can enter the competition that requires them to showcase all aspects of coffee making including set-up, efficiency, consistency, aromatic profile and technique, which are all equally as important as a fantastic looking and tasting coffee. Within a 15 minute timeframe, each barista is required to make four espressos, four cappuccinos and four signature beverages for an expert panel of judges. 2006 is the first year the signature beverage component has featured in the regional competitions and is a chance for the baristas to showcase their creative coffee skills by devising their own unique, espresso-based, beverage.

Regional competitions in 2006 will be held in Christchurch at the Convention Centre June 26th, in Wellington at Te Papa July 10th, in Napier at East Pier July 24th, and in Auckland at Sky City August 14th. The two top baristas from each regional heat, and a possible wildcard (at the judges’ discretion), will go on to compete at the finals in Auckland, striving to become ‘New Zealand’s National Barista of the Year’ and will then represent New Zealand at the 2007 World Barista Championships in Tokyo, Japan.

Robert Harris has been the major sponsor of the National Barista Awards since they began in 2000. Their consistent support of the Awards demonstrates their on-going commitment to the professional development of baristas in New Zealand. Nic McClean, New Zealand Food Service Manager at Cerebos Gregg’s, says “New Zealand Baristas have placed in the top ten at the World Competition since the national event began. This really illustrates the coffee making talent we have in New Zealand. Robert Harris simply wants to ensure that this professional development of baristas is nurtured and New Zealanders continue to enjoy great coffee!”

The National Barista Awards are open to baristas anywhere in the country and places are limited. Further information abut the competition, entry forms and rules and regulations are available from www.nationabaristaawards.co.nz or by phoning 0800 4 COFFEE.

ENDS

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