MEGA result at Columbus Coffee Barista competition

5 March 2012

For Immediate Release

MEGA result at Columbus Coffee Barista competition

Local coffee connoisseurs may be surprised to find one of the best cups of coffee in Napier comes from their local Mitre 10 MEGA.

And the man behind the little cups of liquid gold, Bernie Rolfe, is making sure each and every cup stays that way.

Bernie, 22, was awarded third place at the annual Columbus Coffee Barista Championships ahead of more than 30 entrants from across the country that competed in a heated competition in Auckland. Mitre 10 Mega partnered with Columbus Coffee in 2011 and its network already consists of 13 Mega Cafes across the country.

Bernie, who has been working as a barista for three years, says his secret to making great coffees every day, at MEGA Café by Columbus Coffee, is to treat every cup like it’s a competition winner.

“I pretend that every coffee I make is for a competition. I try to make each one better than the last and keep my own standards very high,” says Bernie. “There are a lot of people making coffees out there and if you don’t care about keeping your standards up then eventually people stop coming.”

He earned high points from the judges with his signature coffee called “Maple Fuse”, a tasting platter of a hazelnut flavoured espresso shot, maple infused velvet milk and white chocolate shavings.

As well as a signature coffee, each contestant had to prove their consistency by making four espressos and four flat whites.

First place at the competition went to Jessica Carr from Columbus Coffee in Ashburton and second place went to Max Lee from Columbus Coffee at Smales Farm in Takapuna, Auckland. All three winners will go on to compete in the New Zealand Barista Championships in Wellington in March.

The annual Columbus Coffee Barista Championship sees the coffee chain’s top baristas compete for the coveted title of champion. The event recognises skill, technical competency, showmanship and creativity.

The judging panel, headed by World Barista Champ Stuart Hargie and five other coffee professionals, agreed the standard of entries this year was the best they had seen since the competition started in 2003 and the scores awarded were at an international level.

Mitre 10 Mega partnered with Columbus Coffee in 2011 and its network already consists of 13 Mega Cafes across the country, with at least another seven being added this year.

As well as being on the way to hosting New Zealand’s biggest chain of cafes, Mitre 10 is New Zealand’s largest hardware retailer and gardening supplier.

ENDS

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