Your Aotearoa Barista Champion ’25 is:
Hiroko Hanna Teramoto
What an incredible weekend for coffee! This year’s championship reached new heights of emotion with the final six baristas showcasing a level of skill, creativity, and passion never before seen on the national stage. Held on Sunday 24 August in Upper Hutt, it truly felt like anyone could have taken the crown, a testament to the remarkable talent across Aotearoa’s coffee community.
With an outstanding 629 points, Hiroko Hanna Teramoto, representing Mojo Coffee, Auckland adds her name to the Aotearoa Barista trophy for a third time, after Champion wins in 2014 and 2022.
Hiroko was born in Japan and also spent much of her childhood in Australia. From her dad she learned the values of hard work and standing tall with pride. As a young barista, she came to Aotearoa and has been on our barista stage ever since.
Hiroko’s coffee is from Finca Los Flores, grown by Jhoan Vergara. Featuring an innovative hydro honey processed coffee, in the cup were notes of passionfruit and yoghurt flavour. She served her signature drink first with ingredients containing filtered cascara creating notes of candied pineapple, yoghurt drops and juicy plums. Her milk course was inspired by childhood memories of her dad giving her flavoured milk, and highlighted ripe banana, crème brûlée, and a cocoa finish.
Her espresso brought together bright notes of passionfruit, pineapple, and raspberry. Her whole routine focussed on “Who am I?”, and Hiroko told that story beautifully with a Lego display, history and whānau.
An emotional performance, one that had us all reaching for tissues.
Next month, Hiroko will represent Aotearoa in the Monin Cup, followed by the World Barista Championship in Panama next October 2026. Mīharo!
Tight scores, a first-ever tie, all the baristas are winners in our eyes, congratulations to our Top Six!
572 Runner Up: Joshua Peacocke Representing: Mojo Coffee, Auckland
572 Third Place: Heesun Lee Representing: Atomic Coffee Roasters, Auckland.
570 Fourth Place: Matt Ross Representing: Kindred, Tauranga Supported by: Grey Roasting Co.
554 Fifth Place: Alan Bruce Representing: Acme Cup Co, Wellington.
520 Sixth Place: Bonnie Lam Representing: The Coffee Dojo,Wanaka. Supported by: Flight Coffee
And a huge congratulations once again to Tufele Timothy Tavite representing Strictly Coffee Roasters in Dunedin who was crowned this year’s People’s Champion. Chosen by you, friends, whānau, customers, and coffee lovers, this award celebrates the aroha and support behind our incredible baristas.
Many thanks to you all for making it happen. More photos to come. Mā te wā.
Your 2025 People’s Champion is Tufele Timothy Tavite
What a stunning day in the Hutt for coffee!
Today 11 baristas, after months of practice, competing at Regionals, and of course crafting some delicious coffee, took to the stage to showcase their skill and knowledge of espresso. Narrowing the field to just six for today’s final was no easy task.
Behind the scenes, more than 60 volunteers, judges, sponsors, and coffee lovers have poured their aroha into making this event possible. We’re so grateful to each and every one of you for celebrating our coffee culture and community through this elevated platform.
A huge congratulations to Tufele Timothy Tavite crowned this year’s People’s Champion at the Aotearoa Barista Champs! Chosen by you the friends, whānau, customers, and coffee lovers – this award celebrates the aroha and support behind our incredible baristas.
What a journey, and tomorrow we’ll crown our new Aotearoa Champion.
Who will represent Aotearoa as our Barista Champion in Panama, 2026? Come on down, The Knowledge Lab will be here with fun interactions, quizzes and giveaways. Join us for a coffee and support our Champions, as they are all Champions to us.
And your top six are with Sunday’s Finals timeline:
9.30 am: Joshua Peacocke representing Mojo Coffee, Auckland
10.25 am: Matt Ross representing: Kindred, Tauranga Supported by: Grey Roasting Co
11.20 am: Bonnie Lam Representing: The Coffee Dojo, Wanaka. Supported by Flight Coffee
12.15 pm: Hiroko Hanna Teramoto Representing: Mojo Coffee, Auckland
1.10 pm: Alan Bruce Representing: Acme Cup Co, Wellington
2.05 pm: Heesun Lee Representing: Atomic Coffee Roasters, Auckland
Who Will Be Crowned the Aotearoa Barista Champion 2025?
This is New Zealand’s most prestigious coffee competition — the pinnacle of barista craft, skill, and passion.
The winner will represent Aotearoa at the World Barista Championship 2026 at the World of Coffee Panama, from 23 to 25 October 2026, at the Panama Convention Center. This is the first World of Coffee trade show ever held in Central America. Flights and accommodation are included in the prize.
With Thanks to Our Principal Sponsor: Meadow Fresh
Supporting the journey from Aotearoa to the world stage:
- Champion: $2,000 cash prize to assist with world travel, training, and practice milk
(Ambassador role with Meadow Fresh to be confirmed) - Runner-Up: $1,000 cash prize
- Third Place: $500 cash prize
Proudly backing excellence in specialty coffee and the incredible baristas who drive it.
Join us… Free Spectator tickets>
Judges’ resources, scoresheets, and rules here>
#nzbc2025
Saturday 23 August round one scores:
589 Joshua Peacocke Representing: Mojo Coffee, Auckland.
443 Rob Hulse Independent, Auckland.
566 Matt Ross Representing: Kindred, Tauranga Supported by: Grey Roasting Co.
452 Nelson Soon Representing: Starbucks New Zealand, Auckland.
559.5 Alan Bruce Representing: Acme Cup Co, Wellington.
606 Hiroko Hanna Teramoto Representing: Mojo Coffee, Auckland.
541 Honggu Shin Representing: Receptionist Coffee, Auckland.
568 Heesun Lee Representing: Atomic Coffee Roasters, Auckland.
321 Saransh Raina Independent, Auckland.
618 Bonnie Lam Representing: The Coffee Dojo, Wanaka. Supported by: Flight Coffee.
414.5 Tufele Timothy Tavite Representing: Strictly Coffee Roasters, Dunedin
Registered Competitors: Get to know them more here>
- Nelson Soon Representing Starbucks New Zealand, Auckland
- Alan Bruce Representing Acme Cup Co, Wellington
- Rob Hulse Independent, Auckland
- Heesun Lee Representing Atomic Coffee Roasters, Auckland
- Saransh Raina Independent, Auckland
- Joshua Peacocke Representing Mojo Coffee, Auckland
- Hiroko Hanna Teramoto Representing Mojo Coffee, Auckland
- Honggu Shin Representing Receptionist Coffee, Auckland
- Bonnie Lam Representing The Coffee Dojo – supported by Flight Coffee, Wanaka
- Matt Ross Representing Kindred – supported by Grey Roasting Co, Tauranga
- Tufele Timothy Tavite Representing: Strictly Coffee Roasters, Dunedin
