Press release
August 16th, 2007
Record entry for New Zealand's Coffee Festival
Carl Sara, fresh from his top three placing in the World Barista Championships in Tokyo last week, is tipped to win New
Zealand's richest barista prize at the New Zealand Coffee Festival starting in Auckland next week.
Carl came 3rd in the Tokyo event, James Hoffmann from the UK took the top honours and Heather Perry from the USA came
second. Carl is competing in the EQUAL New Zealand Latte Art Championships at the festival. The New Zealand Coffee
Festival starts this Friday, August 18, at the Alinghi Base, Auckland. First prize is $2,000.
Baristas will compete before a team of judges to make the best coffee-to-go based on taste, speed of preparation and
latte art. Judges include Chris White of Auckland's Altura Coffee Company who was Chief Judge at the World Barista
Championships. Also judging this year is Rob Forsyth, who is Chair of Australia's Specialty Coffee Association and a
member of the World Barista Championships Rules and Regulations Committee.
Carl Sara, who is a Christchurch based barista, owns three Muffin Break cafes. He is also captain of the three-man The
Black Cups New Zealand barista team which faces off against Australia's Baristaroos in the Da Vinci Trans Tasman Barista
Challenge with the world's richest barista prize of $4,000.
A record number of entries have been received from New Zealand's coffee roasters for this years New Zealand Coffee
Awards. A team of international and local coffee experts will be judging coffees from New Zealand coffee roasters in the
annual awards. More than 200 blends of coffee will be judged.
The festival also features around 40 stands at the Alinghi Base featuring New Zealand freshly roasted coffees, coffee
related products, wine and food.
Members of the public and those in the café industry can also attend seminars over the three days on everything from
setting up their own café to making the perfect coffee.
ENDS