After their success at the Australian Barista Championships, held on 29-31 January, two of Retail Food Group’s (RFG) baristas will travel to London to represent Australia and brew up a storm.

RFG is the owner of the Donut King, Brumby’s, Michel’s Patisserie and bb’s cafe franchises.

Mitchell Faulkner, RFG NSW barista trainer, was awarded first place in Coffee In Good Spirits, which required competitors to make two identical Irish coffees using a whisky of their choice, plus coffee and cream and two identical signature beverages, which include any alcoholic drink and coffee of the barista’s choice.

Michel’s Patisserie’s Victorian barista trainer, Simon James, was named runner-up in the Detpak Barista Champion of the Year.

RFG group manager franchised operations, Deane Priest said the men had worked on RFG’s coffee training program and that the Group invests heavily in the training of franchisees through the skilled baristas.

“The RFG Coffee Training Program was designed to enable staff to develop a well rounded knowledge of coffee theory and practice, everything from coffee blends and extraction to pouring and service,” he said.