What an incredible weekend for coffee! This year’s championship reached new heights, with the final six baristas showcasing a level of skill, creativity, and passion never before seen on the national stage. 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. 🏆 Huge congratulations go to Hiroko Hanna Teramoto, Representing: Mojo Coffee, Auckland your new Aotearoa Barista Champion 2025!
Hiroko was born in Japan but spent a lot of time in Australia growing up too. Her dad instilled the attitude of work hard and stand with pride.
Hanna’s coffee is from Finca Los Flores, grown by Jhoan Vergara. Featuring a innovative hydro honey process with notes of passionfruit & yoghurt flavour thermal shocked to lock in the aromatics and containing filtered cascara. She served her signature drink first with notes of candied pineapple, yoghurt drops and juicy plums. Flavoured milk from her dad reminds Hanna of her milk beverage course featuring ripe banana, creme brulee and a cocoa aftertaste.
Espresso served last with fresh passionfruit, ripe pineapple and raspberry notes.
Hanna is off to represent in the Monin Cup next month too! Well done Hanna! It’s been emotional but that’s what it’s all about. We all needed tissues after that beautiful performance.
An incredible performance, world-class coffee, and a well-deserved victory. She will now go on to represent Aotearoa at the World Barista Championship in Panama in 2026. Mīharo!
Massive congratulations to the following barista’s who are all winner’s in our eyes.
Runner Up: Joshua Peacocke Representing: Mojo Coffee, Auckland
Third Place: Heesun Lee Representing: Atomic Coffee Roasters, Auckland.
Fourth Place: Matt Ross Representing: Kindred, Tauranga Supported by: Grey Roasting Co.
Fifth Place: Alan Bruce Representing: Acme Cup Co, Wellington.
Sixth Place: Bonnie Lam Representing: The Coffee Dojo,Wanaka. Supported by: Flight Coffee
And huge congratulations to Tufele Timothy Tavite representing Strictly Coffee Roasters, Dunedin crowned this year’s People’s Champion at the Aotearoa Barista Champs.
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. 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 timeline:
10:00 am Joshua Peacocke Representing: Mojo Coffee, Auckland.
10:25 am Rob Hulse Independent, Auckland.
10:50 am Matt Ross Representing: Kindred, Tauranga Supported by: Grey Roasting Co.
11:15 am Nelson Soon Representing: Starbucks New Zealand, Auckland.
11:40 am Alan Bruce Representing: Acme Cup Co, Wellington.
12:05 pm Hiroko Hanna Teramoto Representing: Mojo Coffee, Auckland.
12:30 pm Honggu Shin Representing: Receptionist Coffee, Auckland.
12:55 pm Heesun Lee Representing: Atomic Coffee Roasters, Auckland.
1:20 pm Saransh Raina Independent, Auckland.
1:45 pm Bonnie Lam Representing: The Coffee Dojo, Wanaka. Supported by: Flight Coffee.
2:10 pm 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
