Foodco baristas to battle it out for top title

Sarah Stowe

On 4 and 5 June, top baristas from Muffin Break, Jamaica Blue and Dreamy Donuts will descend on Sydney’s Double Bay to compete in the Foodco Barista Championships Grand Final. 

The seventh annual competition will see 13 finalists from Australia and New Zealand prepare and serve 12 cups of coffee in 15 minutes.

They will be required to create four espressos, four cappuccinos and four cups of an espresso-based signature beverage in front of a judging panel comprising:

  • Michael Byrne – 2013 M.I.C.E National Coffee Chain winner and reigning Muffin Break Barista Champion
  • Lance Brown – Lion Dairy and Drinks
  • Angelo Augello – The Bean Alliance
  • Jeremy Regan – Jahnus
  • Will Priestley – Pilgrim Coffee
  • Natalie Brennan – Foodco Group
  • Simon Au-Yueng – Foodco Group
  • John Macphail – Foodco Group (Muffin Break only)
  • Drew Eide – Foodco Group (Jamaica Blue only)

Finalists will be assessed on their customer service and technical skills, as well as the flavour, volume and appearance of each of the 12 coffees.

Judge and ex-competitor Michael Byrne said “this year, I’m looking forward to my role as a judge as opposed to contestant. I know from experience how anxious the baristas will be feeling…I was a bag of nerves before I took the title last year!

“The best advice I can give to the finalists is to practice, practice and practice some more! It’s important to show your creativity and find a way to ‘wow’ the judges with your personality and technique. Just like a typical work day, it’s about premium-quality coffee and service to match,” he added.

Three titles will be up for grabs:

  • 2013 Muffin Break Barista Champion
  • 2013 Jamaica Blue Barista Champion
  • 2013 Dreamy Donuts Barista Champion

Additionally, each winner will receive an Apple Mini iPad, a coffee machine and grinder and they will receive mentoring from top industry experts in the lead-up to the 2014 M.I.C.E competition.

The 13 finalists include:

  • Laura Boevink – Muffin Break North Lakes, QLD
  • Amber Dunstan – Muffin Break Bathurst, NSW
  • Brooke Carroll – Muffin Break Leichhardt, NSW
  • Melissa Hall – Muffin Break Penrith, NSW
  • Stevie-Rae Burgoyne – Muffin Break Treendale, WA
  • Vishal Dhiman – Muffin Break Albany, NZ
  • Chris Grierson – Jamaica Blue Toowoomba, QLD
  • Anita Bosma – Jamaica Blue Castletown, QLD
  • Jana Ligrov – Jamaica Blue Point Cook, VIC
  • Dominique Pastor – Jamaica Blue Stockland Nowra, NSW
  • Ivy Chen – Jamaica Blue Chatswood Chase, NSW
  • Susan Lam – Jamaica Blue Auckland Airport, NZ
  • Phoebe Yee – Dreamy Donuts Adelaide Airport, SA

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