Barista Heat Winners Announced

Robert Harris National Barista Awards 2005 Regional Heat Winners Announced

The Robert Harris National Barista Auckland regional heat winners were announced last night. Ben Boyle from Café 181 took out first place and David Huang from Epicurean Workshop, Newmarket came in a close second at the regional heats at the Logan Campbell Centre, Greenlane. The top two will now go on to compete for the ultimate title of ‘2005 Robert Harris National Barista of the Year’ who will then go on to represent New Zealand at the World Barista Championships in Switzerland in 2006.

Michael Guy, Chief Judge and Publishing Editor of Café Magazine says, “Both Ben and David illustrated a real passion for the art of coffee making. David demonstrated great professionalism and Ben showed consistent understanding of what makes great coffee.

Competitors from around the top of the North Island competed at the regional heat, the last of four regional heats across the country. Ben and David will go on to compete against the other six finalists at the Grand Final at the Wildbean Coffee Festival in Taupo on September 23rd.

The World Barista Championships (WBC) will only accept the highest standard of contestants and to qualify; each Barista must have won an accredited National Barista Competition. In New Zealand, the Robert Harris National Barista Awards is the only WBC accredited Barista competition and they incorporate the WBC format and standards.

During the regional heats, each participant is required to make four espressos, lattes and cappuccinos. 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. The National Barista Awards are sponsored by a number of highly regarded companies and associations including; Robert Harris, Anchor, Faema, Da Vinci, Hospitality Standards Industry and The Restaurant Association of New Zealand.

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.

For more information checkout www.nationalbaristaawards.co.nz

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