Congratulations Max Cui, our 2024 Aotearoa Barista Champion

Barista profile – Hans Pronk

Hans Pronk has been in the business a while from coffee journalism to barista championship judging, find out more about him here
What is your earliest coffee related experience? At 14 years old on a La Marzocco Linea – the first bought coffee I had was a cappuccino and it was yuk!
When / why did you first get working in coffee? First worked in coffee at 15 because it was a job through school.
What led you to becoming a barista? The enjoyment of making and drinking good coffee and the need for a part-time job.
What is the best part of your job? Now, saying hello to all the people that come into the store and getting a glimpse of their life. Having a little bit of something to do with their life.
Talk us through a typical work day. 6am the doors open, knuckle down into work and when I look up again it’s 2pm… Many slow brews, many espressos later…
What are your roles outside of making coffee? Roasting Coffee, Drinking Coffee, Selling Coffee, Managing the shop and the great team of Coffee General!
What is your favourite brew method and/or coffee origin and why? Espresso is my favourite for the morning, I like something a little more subtle in the afternoon. At the moment a Chemex or V60 of a nice Ethiopian is a delightful wrap to the day.
Tulip or rosetta? Tulip and Rosetta!
What would be your dream ‘coffee experience’? To not go to bed dreaming of coffee….
Do you have a ‘coffee crush’? There are a number of great people in this industry, different people for different reasons. I admire Ben Boyle for his passion of coffee, Maddy for his technical involvement of the craft, Ulala and Naomi for their quality and giving it a go in NZ having moved from Japan, Nick Clark for the success of Flight in 4 years, Simon Lewthwaite for being a swag dogg, all I consider good mates.
 

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