We interviewed our prospective judges for the 2022 Meadow Fresh NZ Barista Championship about their coffee journeys, what inspires and what motivates them to judge others. We say prospective as all judges must pass a stringent calibration the day prior ensuring that they are fully fit and capable to judge our Baristas fairly. Many of them have attended specialised workshops involving pulling apart the rules, tasting and acquiring judging skills from our World certified and experienced judges.
Brew a coffee (it won’t be judged!) and read about the legends who donate their time, energy and palates to one of the hardest jobs in the Championship.
Name: Emma Markland Webster
Insta: @truckeeeemmmma
Company and work region: AMC Roastery Supply NZ, NZSCA, Monster Coffee, New Zealand School of Coffee. Mostly top of the south, NZ
Describe what you do on the daily, without using any coffee jargon. Herd cats, solve the world’s problems (or make strong suggestions on how) act like a search engine (ask Emma as Google is busy), and make info packs.
What’s in your cup? a long black or a Taiwanese oolong
Judging in Melbourne? Yep! And for the first time in a long time, just judging sensory (hopefully) not judging judges 🙂
Why do you judge? To give back, to learn, to evolve.
Favourite part about judging. When it happens… tasting delish coffee, and above all else the people.
What’s something you take from judging the Barista competitions into your everyday work life? Everyone sees the same information differently. Whether it’s written, heard or seen.
What else do you like to judge? Other Instagram accounts
Where would we find you on a perfect weekend? In bed with Schnook
Quickfire questions:
Filter or Espresso hard call… filter
Crocs or Air Jordan’s Croc’s slides with jibbitz
Upper Hutt or Athens Er Athens with a side of Taramasalata and flatbreads and an ice-cold Ouzo.
Technical or Sensory Sensory
Night in or night out In every time
Salty or sweet neither, I like balance in all things
Name: Richard Corney
Insta: @richard.corney
Company and work region: Flight Coffee, Wellington.
Describe what you do on the daily, without using any coffee jargon: I generally manage, manage directly and drink a lot of the tasty brown stuff.
What’s in your cup? A beautiful washed coffee from Shyira Washing Station in Rwanda.
Judging in Melbourne? Sure am.
Why do you judge? I first judged to learn as much as I could from the many experts in our industry and to contribute. I now judge to give back to the industry that’s taught me so much and taken me all over the world. To contribute one way or another is rewarding and I find coffee competitions a lot of fun.
Favourite part about judging: Witnessing the continual development of individuals as they progress through time, the challenges baristas put to the industry and competition and the development of the competition through time.
What’s something you take from judging the Barista competitions into your everyday work life? The appreciation of a really well-made espresso from a café and how quality isn’t a fluke.
What else do you like to judge? Bag Pipe competitions…
Where would we find you on a perfect weekend? A vineyard somewhere in Hawkes Bay with my family.
Quickfire questions:
Filter or Espresso Espresso
Crocs or Air Jordan’s Jordans
Upper Hutt or Athens Athens!
Technical or Sensory Both
Night in or night out Night In
Salty or sweet Salty
Name: David Green
Insta: @coffeeguydave
Company and work region: L’affare Wellington (But all over really)
Describe what you do on the daily, without using any coffee jargon: Inspire to improve the quality of little brown beans becoming a high-quality and incredibly tasty black liquid across the country.
What’s in your cup? Generally, some form of coffee (I’m not overly fussy what type) unless it is socially acceptable to fill it with beer.
Judging in Melbourne? Not this time round – Time to enjoy WBC as a spectator and see more of MICE than just the Barista stage and Judges’ room.
Why do you judge? I began judging as the competition was and still is at the leading edge of innovation in the coffee craft and was the best way to see Barista skills improve.
Favourite part about judging: Tasty Brews and great people!
What’s something you take from judging the Barista competitions into your everyday work life? Don’t ever finger-rim a cup!
What else do you like to judge? Everyone and everything around me
Where would we find you on a perfect weekend? Side lines of my kids’ sports or chilling out with friends & family eating and drinking
Quickfire questions:
Filter or Espresso – Filter
Crocs or Air Jordan’s – Jordans
Upper Hutt or Athens – Athens (Although Brew Town is in Upper Hutt so….)
Technical or Sensory – Technical – Don’t mind sensory but have the ideal RBF to be a head judge.
Night in or night out – More in than out these days
Salty or sweet – Salty
Name: Chris White
Insta: @flatwhitenz
Company and work region: Altura Auckland
Describe what you do on the daily, without using any coffee jargon: Lose my marbles…
What’s in your cup? About a ‘D’ Size
Judging in Melbourne? Yes (The Judges)
Why do you judge? I thought if Judy can do it then so could I
Favourite part about judging: Giving a 6!
What’s something you take from judging the Barista competitions into your everyday work life? Hoping that every coffee I get is worthy of a 6
What else do you like to judge? Wine
Where would we find you on a perfect weekend? Winery
Quickfire questions:
Filter or Espresso: Filter
Crocs or Air Jordan’s: I wanna be like Mike
Upper Hutt or Athens: No hesitation…Upper Hutt!
Technical or Sensory: Shadow
Night in or night out: Night in, Bottle of wine, watching the telly
Salty or sweet: That’s what she asked…
Name: David Huang
Insta:@ka.fe.dave
Company and work region: Society Coffee Roasters in Auckland
Describe what you do on the daily, without using any coffee jargon: Roast and taste coffee, visit and support our cafe customers, finding the next best coffee to share.
What’s in your cup? Colombia CM natural
Judging in Melbourne? Hey Melbourne 2022, I am coming!
Why do you judge? Judging allows me the opportunity to peek into the world of coffee professionals and what they have achieved. Think master class of coffee!
Favourite part about judging: Besides tasting some amazing “Brown stuff”, got to be working and sharing ideas with other coffee legends.
What’s something you take from judging the Barista competitions into your everyday work life? Learning to observe in detail but think holistically. Always try to remove personal bias when assessing what is in front of me.
What else do you like to judge? There are so much inspiration and revelation every year when I walk away from judging. Where do I even start? 🙂
Where would we find you on a perfect weekend? Tramping, Hiking and drinking tasty coffee.
Quickfire questions:
Filter or Espresso: Filter
Crocs or Air Jordan’s: Crocs
Upper Hutt or Athens Athens
Technical or Sensory Sensory
Night in or night out Night in
Salty or sweet: salty
Name: Tane Welton
Insta: @worldspokespeople
Company and work region: QC & Relationship Manager, 3Brothers and Cofinet, NZ
Describe what you do on the daily, without using any coffee jargon: Process orders and talk with customers, facilitate green shipments and their arrival in NZ, and sample roast and cup pre-shipment samples.
What’s in your cup? A sample roast of our 200hr Castillo Natural produced by Jairo Arcila in Quindio, Colombia.
Judging in Melbourne? Love to but not this time.
Why do you judge? Because I’m hopeless at competing! Besides that, it’s an awesome opportunity to get involved in the coffee community.
Favourite part about judging? Experiencing barista routines that they have worked for months or even years to create and tasting amazing coffees.
What’s something you take from judging the Barista competitions into your everyday work life? Anything that will fit into my pocket – cupping spoons, portafilter, a grinder maybe?
What else do you like to judge? People’s homegrown tomatoes, mine are usually the best…
Where would we find you on a perfect weekend? Chilling at home, drinking coffee, listing to some hip hop instrumentals, playing in the garden with my plants and little daughter, followed by a BBQ on the deck with a hazy and a few friends
Quickfire questions:
Filter or Espresso Filter
Crocs or Air Jordan’s Air Jordans
Upper Hutt or Athens Athens
Technical or Sensory Sensory
Night in or night out Night in
Salty or sweet Salty
Name: Kerry Murray
Insta: kbmurray90
Company and work region: L’affare – Wellington
Describe what you do on the daily, without using any coffee jargon: make sure that green coffee comes in gets roasted and sent back out. And other things….
What’s in your cup? Sumatra Natural today judging in Melbourne? No
Why do you judge? Because Emma tells me to
Favourite part about judging: tasty tasty coffee and excellent people
What’s something you take from judging the Barista competitions into your everyday work life? A snapshot of the industry and the very best it can offer in the cup in NZ
What else do you like to judge? Well, I’m not judgemental but….Where would we find you on a perfect weekend? On the couch
Quickfire questions: Filter or Espresso: EspressoCrocs or Air Jordan’s: Air JordanUpper Hutt or Athens: AthensTechnical or Sensory: SensoryNight in or night out: Night in and out?Salty or sweet: Both
Name: Toni Izard-Price
Insta: @malalevica
Company and work region: Espresso Ninja; Wellington
Describe what you do on the daily, without using any coffee jargon. Repair and service your coffee machines
What’s in your cup? A very tasty Oolong not coffee… it’s OK I’m just a tech judge
Judging in Melbourne? I wish!
Why do you judge? I always wonder that it’s very intense; but, I’m always glad I did, and still learn tonnes every year
Favourite part about judging: Catching up with everyone from around the country
What’s something you take from judging the Barista competitions into your everyday work life? Don’t be a judgy coffee snob… The highest grade coffee can still be butchered by the barista, and a much lower grade brewed very nicely and taste
What else do you like to judge? Always people who don’t like cats
Where would we find you on a perfect weekend? With my partner at a cute AirBnB with a fire and a bath in the bush; either near the sea or mountain bike trails
Quickfire questions:
Filter or Espresso
Crocs or Air Jordan’s
Upper Hutt or Athens
Technical or Sensory
Night in or night out
Salty or sweet Both
Name: Nicholas Hollier
Insta: @atomiccoffeeroasters
Company and work region:
Atomic Coffee Roasters // Auckland
Describe what you do on the daily, without using any coffee jargon: source green coffee / Develop and maintain roast profiles / Education with our wider company / of course turn a lot of green coffee brown
What’s in your cup? A thermal Shock process Castillo from Colombia Roasted by DAK coffee roasters in Amsterdam // Atomic’s Seasonal Fruit Punch IV
Judging in Melbourne? If only
Why do you judge? For my own development and to give back to the community that means so much to me
Favourite part about judging: Tasting all the beautiful coffees, and seeing others being excited about coffee
What’s something you take from judging the Barista competitions into your everyday work life? A desire to drive the same passion that I see at BC within my company culture.
What else do you like to judge? People that wear Nike shoes with Adidas socks
Where would we find you on a perfect weekend? Probably at one of my favourite coffee or brunch spots then hanging out in my garden tending to all the plants
Quickfire questions:
Filter or Espresso: Filter
Crocs or Air Jordan’s: Jordans – I am not a chef
Upper Hutt or Athens: Is this a real question?
Technical or Sensory: sensory
Night in or night out: Night in all-day
Salty or sweet: Salt on Salt
Name: Ken Shi
Insta: ken.Shi.125
Company and work region: Aoraki Coffee Roaster, Hampton Downs, Waikato
Describe what you do on the daily, without using any coffee jargon: Roasting coffee at Hampton Downs, visiting different cafe clients, playing around the coffee machines, backing up for all the team members plus tasting my wife’s delicious dinner…
What’s in your cup? Seasonal single or blend plus coke no sugar 🙂
Judging in Melbourne? Not yet
Why do you judge? Finding our national barista champion
Favourite part about judging: Challenging my taste buds
What’s something you take from judging the Barista competitions into your everyday work life? Sometimes we need to face the problem, face the reality, even if it’s an ugly truth.
What else do you like to judge? Karate or Karaoke
Where would we find you on a perfect weekend? Roasting at Hampton Downs or Landscaping at home
Quickfire questions:
Filter or Espresso: Espresso
Crocs or Air Jordan’s: Both
Upper Hutt or Athens: Athens
Technical or Sensory: Sensory
Night in or night out: Married
Salty or sweet: Both
Name: Kayoko Nakamura
Insta: @kay_nak
Company and work region: Mojo Coffee Auckland
Describe what you do on the daily, without using any coffee jargon I train people how to make coffee.
What’s in your cup? Filter brew
Judging in Melbourne? No
Why do you judge? Great networking opportunity to support the coffee community.
Favourite part about judging: Being able to taste some of the finest coffee
What’s something you take from judging the Barista competitions into your everyday work life? Evaluation and giving constructive feedback.
What else do you like to judge? CIGS or something with alcohol
Where would we find you on a perfect weekend? Dog park
Quickfire questions:
Filter or Espresso Filter
Crocs or Air Jordan’s Crocs
Upper Hutt or Athens Upper Hutt
Technical or Sensory Sensory
Night in or night out Night in
Salty or sweet Salty
Name: Benji Taiaroa
Insta: benjitaiaroa
Company and work region: FEOH & Bitches Brew Roastery / Waipu
Describe what you do on the daily, without using any coffee jargon: I’m up before the sun then I brew/roast/drink coffee, drink some coldies and put off baking till the sun goes down ready to do it all again
What’s in your cup? Water
Judging in Melbourne? Volunteer
Why do you judge? To give back & learn more as an individual
Favourite part about judging? Free KFC?
What’s something you take from judging the Barista competitions into your everyday work life? New coffee knowledge gained from Competitors/Judges or Coaches around me on what’s happening, new practices or ways to achieve more from a cup of joe.
What else do you like to judge? Mums cooking
Where would we find you on a perfect weekend? Round the fire on the beach with a drink in hand
Quickfire questions:
Filter or Espresso? Tea
Crocs or Air Jordan’s? Sketchers
Upper Hutt or Athens? Athens
Technical or Sensory? Both!
Night in or night out? Night in
Salty or sweet? Sour
Name: Andrew Feldon
Insta: @kiwicoffeeman
Company and work region: Mouthwater Coffee Company – in the mighty Palmy
Describe what you do on the daily, without using any coffee jargon: talk to people about their lives over a cuppa, (I always seem to be the one making it for them) but they do pay me for it.
What’s in your cup? Coffee. Good coffee. Either filter or long black.
Judging in Melbourne? sadly no.
Why do you judge? Paying it forward, the amount the feedback from judges helped me [when I used to compete] in my early years in coffee helped form my career and grow/push me. I also learn so much from seeing the ideas people bring, and the chats had with an enthusiastic coffee family!
Favourite part about judging – is seeing people succeed and push the boundaries of what we know.
What’s something you take from judging the Barista competitions into your everyday work life? not getting complacent – fine-tuning the finer things – looking for the areas to improve further.
What else do you like to judge? my kid’s bedroom cleanliness? 😉 (or the wine I could be holding in my hand after kids are in bed)
Where would we find you on a perfect weekend? in the wilderness… camping by a waterfall, or lake with an amazing view, and no cellphone reception.
Quickfire questions:
Filter or Espresso – Filter
Crocs or Air Jordan’s – Jordans for sure
Upper Hutt or Athens – The Hutt (only coz I haven’t made it to Athens yet)
Technical or Sensory – Tech!
Night in or night out – Night in. I’m getting old.
Salty or sweet – Traditionally been sweet – but think I’m turning salty…
Name: Adam Kyne-Lilley
Insta: @adamkynelilley
Company and work region: L’affare, Wellington
Describe what you do on the daily, without using any coffee jargon: Manage a small team of people who roast coffee, taste coffee, try and avoid meetings, stare at spreadsheets.
What’s in your cup? Dunno, Dave made a pot of something. It was only ok. (Sorry Dave)
Judging in Melbourne? Nah, just spectating
Why do you judge? It’s almost the only place you can work together with coffee people from other businesses.
Favourite part about judging: Free delicious coffee.
What’s something you take from judging the Barista competitions into your everyday work life? The free t-shirt and mug.
What else do you like to judge? The bottom of beer glasses.
Where would we find you on a perfect weekend? Last weekend I made a “Cuban mop”, which I was pretty proud of. If you google it, you’ll get an idea of my carpentry skills and how boring my life is.
Quickfire questions:
Filter or Espresso Filter
Crocs or Air Jordan’s McKinlay’s
Upper Hutt or Athens Athens
Technical or Sensory Sensory
Night in or night out In
Salty or sweet Salty, used to be sweet though
Name: Frank Hsu
Insta: @frankie_arise
Company and work region: Frank’s Coffee & Cafes in Wellington
Describe what you do on the daily, without using any coffee jargon: Being a small business operator, my day is full of constant juggling between coffee roasting, sourcing, communicating, baking, administering and delivering, as well as occasionally filling in shifts at the cafes. Occasionally I get to put my feet up and enjoy the moment but it’s been rare these days.
What’s in your cup? I’d say I am a true enthusiast of everything about coffee. It all started with a seed / a dream about having a coffee shop, and as the more I learn about coffee the more I feel I don’t know much about it. The desire and passion to pursue understanding everything about coffee grows over the years and Frank’s has also grown from a humble cafe to a micro roastery with multiple sites, offering specialty coffee from many origins in the world, while working with awesome like-minded people along the journey. It’s a cup that can never be filled but can feel full at times with the richest experience offered in this journey.
Judging in Melbourne? Super keen!
Why do you judge? Nothing excites me more than being with coffee professionals from all parts of the industry inside/outside of NZ coming together to celebrate the baristas by offering our expertise in sensory/technical areas and contributing to finding the best barista to represent NZ in the premier event of World Barista Championship. It’s a privilege and a responsibility I feel drawn towards.
Favourite part about judging: Experiencing the barista’s months of preparation coming together and presenting in front of you and getting to taste some of the most delicious coffee. It’s magical!
What’s something you take from judging the Barista competitions into your everyday work life? All the judging criteria for sensory/technical scores setting the golden standard for what we should drive for in the day-to-day at the cafes/roastery and sharing that with the team has always been an educational and inspirational experience as well as helping us appreciate the craft even more!
What else do you like to judge? There should be competition that a team of baristas come together and meet hundreds of customers’ orders in a set amount of time, just like how it would be in the real world scenario, and be judged by how successfully the team has achieved that. It would be super cool and practical!
Where would we find you on a perfect weekend? Flying a private plane to a remote spot and immersed in the NZ nature, with good coffee and food readily available along the way of course…
Quickfire questions:
Filter or Espresso: Espresso
Crocs or Air Jordan’s: AIR JORDANSSSSSSS
Upper Hutt or Athens: UPPER HUTT but Athens Yes
Technical or Sensory: Sensory
Night in or night out: Night IN
Salty or sweet: Salty Sweet
Name: Charlie Self
Insta: littledrumcoffee
Company and work region: Little Drum Coffee, BOP
Describe what you do on the daily, without using any coffee jargon: create the product, test the product then ship the product, as well as slinging out a few coffees and lovingly abusing some of the customers. People need a laugh nowadays
What’s in your cup? Cuppa soup
Judging in Melbourne? Nah
Why do you judge? To be part of something that enriches the mind and have a few beers with people from the industry
Favourite part about judging: tasting
What’s something you take from judging the Barista competitions into your everyday work life? A little voice that says “are you sure you wanna do it like that…”
What else do you like to judge? If people have the manners, it’s not hard to say thank you when you open the door for them or when you let them out of a side road.
Where would we find you on a perfect weekend? If it’s ski season, up a mountain. If it’s summer, playing some disc golf.
Quickfire questions:
Filter or Espresso: filter
Crocs or Air Jordan’s: crocs
Upper Hutt or Athens: Upper Hutt
Technical or Sensory: sensory
Night in or night out: too many variables to give a straight answer.
Salty or sweet: salty, sorry haven’t got a photo at hand, but you can always pull one from my only fans page…
Name: Stu Hargie
Insta: @stuhargie
Company and work region: Turning Point Coffee. Northland
Describe what you do on the daily, without using any coffee jargon. Pack bags, coffee bags, courier bags, and school bags.
What’s in your cup? Right now, air (need a top-up)
Judging in Melbourne? Not this year, unfortunately.
Why do you judge? To learn, to pass on the things I have learnt, and to connect with industry people.
Favourite part about judging: Watching the barista’s weeks/months/years of training come to the point of delivery. Tasting amazing coffee and connecting with industry friends.
What’s something you take from judging the Barista competitions into your everyday work life? The pens and clipboards
What else do you like to judge? Hot chip quality
Where would we find you on a perfect weekend? Fishing
Quickfire questions:
Filter or Espresso: omni brewer filter
Crocs or Air Jordan’s Jordan’s
Upper Hutt or Athens Really?
Technical or Sensory sensory
Night in or night out in these days
Salty or sweet: salty
Name: John Cole
Insta: It’s been a while since I have checked. I’m off the gram
Company and work region: Mojo Coffee, Wellington
Describe what you do on the daily, without using any coffee jargon: Support teams and inspire great hospitality and quality.
What’s in your cup? A washed Kenyan filter
Judging in Melbourne? unfortunately, not
Why do you judge? To give back to our amazing industry. It’s a great way to connect and learn from others.
Favourite part about judging: The people.
What’s something you take from judging the Barista competitions into your everyday work life? Awareness. You always have to be on to it.
What else do you like to judge? Burgers
Where would we find you on a perfect weekend? On the trails in the bush with my family and dog.
Quickfire questions:
Filter or Espresso: Filter
Crocs or Air Jordan’s: Air Jordan’s
Upper Hutt or Athens: Upper Hutt
Technical or Sensory: Sensory
Night in or night out: Night in
Salty or sweet: Salty