A barista to watch

15 April 2013

A barista to watch

He drinks six to 10 shots of coffee each day, prefers the flavour of Ethiopian Yirgacheffee and at 21 years old is already one of New Zealand’s top baristas.

Sam Low is one to watch in the coffee world.

He recently placed 8th in the National Barista Championships, despite being one of the youngest competitors and having only completed his studies last year.

Sam was up against seasoned baristas, many of whom have worked in the café scene for decades and are regarded as the best in the country.

“I was thrilled even to be selected to take part in the competition. To win 8th in New Zealand felt amazing,” Sam says.

Sam, who works for Atomic Roastery in Kingsland, began his career as a barista while still at school.

He entered Manukau Institute of Technology’s secondary school barista competition and became hooked when he won gold first time.

Sam honed his skills in the MIT barista training café – The Grind – while doing his food and beverage apprenticeship training.

MIT Culinary and Hospitality lecturer George Win says Sam’s talent was evident when he first entered The Grind as a school boy.

“We are proud that MIT’s partnership with secondary schools was the beginning of Sam’s career,” George says.

There is no mistaking Sam’s passion for coffee.

He recently went on a coffee holiday in the United States, sampling the offerings of America’s best baristas.

At home he brews on the stove, using an espresso machine and even with a plunger when the mood takes him.

He spends his spare time reading about the world’s coffee beans and searching for the latest trends and research on the internet.

And he often ends the day with an espresso just before bed.

Passion is vital to be a successful barista Sam says.

“At the National Barista Championship the coffee itself is only about 30% of your final score. The rest is your passion, how you deliver, the explanation you give of the process and why you have chosen that particular bean.”

Sam aims to one day win the national competition and go on to represent New Zealand at the World Barista Championship.

ENDS

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