Christchurch to host Barista showdown

Media Release

11th July 2005

Christchurch to host Barista showdown

The grinders are whizzing, the milk is frothing and the blends are planned to precision. The Robert Harris National Barista Awards arrive in Christchurch for the southern region heats next Monday 18th July at the Christchurch Convention Centre. The best baristas from the South Island will compete for one of two places that will give them the chance to become the ‘2005 Robert Harris National Barista’ of the year at the finals in Taupo on September 23rd. The overall winner will go on to represent New Zealand at the World Barista Championships in Switzerland in 2006.

The World Barista Championships (WBC) will only accept the highest calibre of contestants and stipulate that to qualify; each Barista must have won an accredited National Barista Competition. In New Zealand, Robert Harris are the only WBC accredited Barista Awards and incorporate the World Barista Championships format and standards for their regional heats and Grand final.

With semi final competitions in Christchurch, Wellington, and Auckland and for the first time this year in Napier it is assured that only the finest Baristas will be selected. Each contestant is required to make four espressos, cappuccinos and lattes. Every aspect of their barista presentation is judged from set-up, efficiency, consistency to aromatic profile and technique by an elite panel of experienced judges. In 2005 this panel will include Carl Sara, the 2004 National Champion who came 4th at the worlds in Seattle in April this year.

720 people have entered the Robert Harris National Barista awards since the competition started in 2000. With the addition of another heat in Napier for 2005 competition is guaranteed to be tough. The regional heats will begin in Christchurch on July 18th, Wellington August 1st, Napier August 8th and Auckland August 23rd. The two top scoring baristas from each region will then head to Taupo on the 23rd of September to compete for the title of ‘2005 Robert Harris National Barista of the Year’ at the Wildbean Coffee Festival.

As the industry’s most respected and world accredited competition the Robert Harris National Barista awards are sponsored by a number of highly regarded companies and associations including Robert Harris, Anchor, Faema, Da Vinci Gourmet and the Restaurant Association.

The 2005 Robert Harris National Barista Awards recognises the best in the café scene and enables baristas from around the country to test their skills in a challenging and fun environment. These events are open to the public, so come and support our world-class baristas during the course of the championship.

ENDS

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