Melissa Hall has won the seventh annual Foodco Barista Championships, earning herself the titles of both 2013 Muffin Break Barista Champion and 2013 Foodco Barista Champion.

The 21 year old, who has worked at Muffin Break Penrith for the past six years, impressed judges with her ability to produce 12 cups of quality coffee in just 15 minutes.

They were particularly pleased by:

• The consistency and colour of the cremö in her espresso
• The creaminess of the froth and smoothness of the milk in her cappuccino
• Her tactile balance

It was, however, Melissa’s Tropical Piccolo that really set her apart from the rest. Her signature beverage contained fresh lime, maple and coconut syrup and a 30ml shot of espresso.

Melissa was incredibly pleased with the result, particularly considering she did not perform to the same standard last year.

“I’m so happy I won! I didn’t make it to the grand final last year so to have come back to win the title this year is an achievement I’m so proud of!

“It was definitely a nerve-wracking experience but part of me knew the judges would like my signature drink. It’s memorable and delicious and now I can’t wait to make more of it!” she said.  

John MacPhail, brand manager, Muffin Break said he was impressed by how the company’s six baristas performed in the final.

“To even make it to the final is an incredible feat and I am truly proud of all six competitors. In addition to freshly-baked foods, coffee is a key element of the Muffin Break product mix.

“Our Melbourne-roasted proprietary coffee blend is award-winning and all Muffin Break baristas undergo hours and hours of training on a regular basis, so it was really rewarding to see the upshot of all their hard-work put into practice yesterday.

“As Melissa demonstrated however, one of the keys to being a champion barista is the ability to adjust your technique to swiftly serve-up premium-tasting coffee in spite of external pressures,” he said.