AOTEAROA BARISTA CHAMPS : A CELEBRATION OF COFFEE & THE CROWNING OF NEW ZEALAND’S BEST BARISTA
What a weekend, a showcase of talent and innovation. The Aotearoa Barista Champs 2024 has wrapped for another year, and Meadow Fresh could not be prouder to have been part of such an inspiring and exciting event. With baristas from across the country competing for the title; the energy and passion for coffee were truly on display.
We are thrilled to announce this year’s champion is Yuqui (Max) Cui from Mojo Wellington. His precision, creativity and flair set him apart in what was an incredibly tough competition. We cannot wait to see his journey continue on the world stage next October in Milan. Also, a huge congratulations must go out to runner up Bonnie Lam from The Coffee Dojo in Wanaka and 3rd place Hanna Teramoto from Coffee Tech who also had amazing performances over the weekend.
There were a number of highlights and special moments over the weekend;
- Incredible Coffee : Competitors wowed the judges with innovative and daring coffee concepts, showcasing the very best of what specialty coffee has to offer.
- Expert Techniques : It seems to amplify every year, but the level of skill and knowledge demonstrated was outstanding.
- Most Memorable Moment : This goes to the 5.8 earthquake at 5am on Sunday morning, followed by a fire alarm test – the fact the competitors managed to keep their cool with these adverse events demonstrates true resilience.
- Community and Connection : The Aotearoa Barista Champs isn’t just about competition; it’s about the coffee community coming together and supporting each other, and this was evident with the number of new baristas competing for the first time.
Thank you to everyone who participated, the competitors, the judges, the volunteers, sponsors, and of course the organisers. What a weekend.
See highlights of the weekend here.
Next stop Regional Barista Champs 2025!