The main event is nearly here!
Entry is NOW open for all, but be quick, limited places remain.
Congratulations to our regional placegetters who are competing:
Jay Marshall-Makaea Representing: McDonald’s Parry Group of Restaurants from the Hamilton and Rotorua regions.
Bio: I want to compete to continue expanding my coffee understanding. I see competing as a thrilling and valuable opportunity to grow my barista skills and to go all out to showcase the coffee knowledge I’ve already hungrily consumed and showcase my ambition for more! Mauri ora!
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Wayne Burrows Representing: Zephyr Coffee Co in the Auckland region.
Bio: Coffee has allowed me to be a part of it for 18 years, and I have always tried to give it the best possible voice I can. Competitions allow us to showcase a journey we, as baristas, take with the coffee. From meeting for the first time on a farm or cupping table and then allowing it to blossom while exploring its flavour potential. As a competitor, you are then able to share this journey with not only judges but like-minded coffee people. The culmination of competitions is twofold: attempting to show the rest of the world the New Zealand roasted coffee is excellent and filled with passion, as well as representing the NZ industry as a whole.
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Joshua Peacocke Representing: Independent/Coffeesoc, from the Christchurch region.
Bio: I am a really passionate coffee hobbyist! I founded Coffeesoc in 2022 after discovering a love for speciality coffee as a whole. Coffeesoc gave me an entry into volunteering, and now competing! I am competing to represent other coffee hobbyists like myself who want to be able be in this community, but for one reason or another cannot.
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Jason Moore Representing: Vanguard Specialty Coffee Co. in Dunedin.
Bio: I am passionate about all things coffee. From sourcing, roasting, brewing, to connecting with customers and the wider audience. I am a firm believer in community and education and love to have the opportunity to represent my company values and NZ as a whole to the wider global coffee community.
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Bonnie Lam Representing: The Coffee Dojo Wanaka – Supported by: Flight Coffee in the Otago region.
Bio: My age seems to have outrun me. I’m 37 but definitely run around like I’m in my 20s, especially now that I have a child. Apart from owning 2 businesses and being mum, I enjoy a lot of outdoor activities – snowboarding, skating, biking. Love a good laugh and only ‘adult’ when necessary!
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Hanna Teramoto Representing: Coffee Tech in the Auckland region.
Bio: Hi my name is Hanna. I enjoy competing because it pushes me to grow as better coffee person and as human being. Competition is part of my coffee journey and a place to express myself through coffee.
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Agnese Sokolovska Representing: Eighthirty Coffee Roasters in the Auckland region.
Bio: I’ve been enjoying a cup of coffee for 25 years but worked in the industry for around 10. Coffee has brought me all over the world and the industry has given me the chance to connect with the most incredible people. New Zealand is the place that sparked my passion as a barista, it feels like a full circle bringing the coffee of my friends in Colombia to and representing it here- where it all started.
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Tanner Hunt Representing: Hummingbird Coffee Roasters in the Christchurch region.
Bio: I have always wanted to be in the hospitality/coffee industry but didn’t take the plunge till I came to New Zealand in 2020. Since starting with Hummingbird in late 2022, my coffee knowledge & industry experience has grown exponentially. Coming in 4th place for the NZSCA regionals, I’m excited to be representing HB in the nationals competing alongside some of NZ’s best.
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Yuqi (Max) Cui Representing: Mojo in the Wellington region.
Bio: I am competing because I want to keep getting better and I just love to explore the endless possibilities in coffees. I am from Mojo Wellington and I hope I make Mojo proud which is where everything started for me.
