The Meadow Fresh NZ Barista Championship 2020 has been a long time coming but is now fast approaching! We reached out to our competing Baristas to get to know them a bit more before we see them all on stage on Saturday 5 September.
Name: Yui Park
Company: Ugly Coffee
Insta: @uglycoffee__
What was your first introduction to coffee? Iced Americano, it was my survival juice.
What’s in your cup? Its always filled with positive energy!
Why do you want to compete? I want to share my unique coffee.
Where do you hope to be in five years’ time? Someone who can share a variety of coffee beans from various farms around the world!
What’s something you take from competitions into your everyday work life? I want to see passions from fellow baristas and share it with my coffee customers.
What gets you fired up? New bean from a new farm.
What are you addicted to? Coffee! What else?
The person in coffee who inspires you: Youngjin Cha from Tob Coffee!
Quickfire questions:
Short black or flat white? Both
Jandals or sneakers? Sneakers
Washed or naturally processed? Washed!
Flying or super strength? Flying
TDS or WTF? TDS
Downtown or out of town? Out of town
Name: Rachel Chalmers
Insta: @Rachelchamersx
Company: Meebz Coffee Roasters
What was your first introduction to coffee? When I was young my Dad would ask me to make him a cup of coffee with four sugars inside of it haha! On my way to giving it to him, I would have a sneaky sip!
What’s in your cup? Usually a soy piccolo!
Why do you want to compete? I like to push myself outside my comfort zone! I think it’s a great way to accelerate learning and grow!
Where do you hope to be in five years’ time? I would love to own a cute coffee shop by day and a cocktail bar by night!
What’s something you take from competitions into your everyday work life? Professionalism and upholding high standards when serving coffee!
What gets you fired up? Mean people!! Really no need for it
What are you addicted to? I like mugs!! Especially pink mugs! I have quite the selection! I am also addicted to scrolling through Pinterest and looking at interior design
The person in coffee who inspires you: My boss! (Mike Tan) He is young, driven and hardworking!
Quickfire questions:
Short back or flat white? Flat white
Jandals or sneakers? Jandals
Washed or naturally processed? Naturally processed
Flying or super strength? Flying
TDS or WTF? WTF is TDS? Hahaha
Downtown or out of town? Out of town
Name: Joey Hong
Company: Ozone Coffee Roasters, Auckland
Insta: @joeyarmand_
What was your first introduction to coffee? My first ever introduction to coffee was during middle school. I stole a packet of instant-coffee mix from my parent’s stash when they weren’t home. I instantly got hooked onto it!
What’s in your cup? Just water. Gotta stay hydrated
Why do you want to compete? To showcase the importance of hospitality, and to observe the latest innovations in the industry.
Where do you hope to be in five years’ time? Hopefully passing down my accumulated knowledge to the next generation of coffee professionals.
What’s something you take from competitions into your everyday work life? To name a few, the professionalism, innovations, and the attention to details.
What gets you fired up? Witnessing the success of other people amps me up! It motivates me to try even harder.
What are you addicted to? I am a sucker for a nice, juicy filter coffee.
The person in coffee who inspires you: Too easy, Nico Refiti
Quickfire questions:
Short back or flat white? Both
Jandals or sneakers? Sneakers
Washed or naturally processed? Natural
Flying or super strength? Super strength
TDS or WTF? WTF
Downtown or out of town? Out of town
Name: Bill Zheng
Company: Woozoo group
Insta: @55555bill
What was your first introduction to coffee? My coffee grownup in Colombia, Java varietal.
What’s in your cup? My heart
Why do you want to compete? Know more about coffee and myself, the relationship between customers and barista, also try to find the meaning of barista.
Where do you hope to be in five years’ time? I hope I can own my own coffee shop
What’s something you take from competitions into your everyday work life? I have a little bit OCD after I competed I’ve changed a lot, my station cleaner, and my speed much faster.
What gets you fired up? Dirty coffee station
What are you addicted to? Latte art and the flavours
The person in coffee who inspires you: Takayuki from Japan
Quickfire questions:
Short back or flat white? Flat White
Jandals or sneakers? Sneakers
Washed or naturally processed? Washed processed
Flying or super strength? Flying
TDS or WTF? WTF😂
Downtown or out of town? Downtown
Name: Bonnie Lam
Company: The Coffee Shack Wanaka – using Flight Coffee
Insta: @thecoffeeshackwanaka
What was your first introduction to coffee? Mocha the gateway
What’s in your cup? Long Black, soy hot choc in the afternoon
Why do you want to compete? to learn, extend my barista skills and meet amazing humans!
Where do you hope to be in five years’ time? At WBC
What’s something you take from competitions into your everyday work life? I make my daily coffee like how I make coffee at the comp.
What gets you fired up? When people don’t listen and regurgitate responses.
What are you addicted to? Life! chocolate, snowboarding, longboarding, dogs, baking, biking, travelling. Any fun stuff!
The person in coffee who inspires you: Agnieszka Rojewska
Quickfire questions:
Short back or flat white? SB
Jandals or sneakers? sneakers
Washed or naturally processed? both
Flying or super strength? flying
TDS or WTF? wtf TDS ftw
Downtown or out of town? out of town
Name: Anne-Lise Mornard-Stott
Company: Ripe Coffee Roasters
Insta: @gisele_732
What was your first introduction to coffee? Probably my dad’s morning cuppa. He always has a pot ready in the morning.
What’s in your cup? At home, I enjoy espressos or v60 from Wellington roasters. I never stick to one bean or blend because there’s too much to discover. I also never drink the coffee I roast at home because I like to keep in touch with what others are doing.
Why do you want to compete? There’s nothing like a competition to stay interested and challenge yourself. It’s also a great way to see up close what the best are doing.
Where do you hope to be in five years’ time? I hope I’ll still be working at Ripe, the job I have right now is the one I’ve always wanted.
What’s something you take from competitions into your everyday work life? Tonnes of humility. I’ve had big ups and downs so far, in competition and in life, so I try to remember that there is so much I don’t know but there are a lot of people out there with that knowledge and they are often only a phone call away. Competitions foster a spirit of community and I wouldn’t be here without it.
What gets you fired up? When I brew a really good cup several times in a row, I get a serious high. Also when I find new reference material to explore, it gives me a boost of energy.
What are you addicted to? Social media (yeah, I know).
Person in coffee who inspires you: Sooo many. Kim Boyd was one of the first that got me curious about what’s beyond the daily café grind. James Hoffmann’s bad coffee products reviews keep me alive. Scott Rao is controversial, but his books and classes made me a better roaster and barista.
Quick fire questions:
Short back or flat white? Short black☕
Jandals or sneakers? Sneakers👟
Washed or naturally processed? Natural🍓🍒🍌
Flying or super strength? Flying🦸♀️
TDS or WTF? TDS🧪
Downtown or out of town? Out of town 🏕
Name: Luise Metelka
Company: Flight Coffee
Insta: @wanderluise
What was your first introduction to coffee? – When I was 13 I started drinking my parent’s European Dark Roast on filter back in Germany. Not my cup of coffee anymore.
What’s in your cup? A clean, fruity, washed filter coffee
Why do you want to compete? Big Question. Like most people I am competing, because I want to learn and grow. I love the preparation time! I also like to challenge myself.
Where do you hope to be in five years’ time? In Colombia trading ethically sourced coffee.
What’s something you take from competitions into your everyday work life? Attention to detail and working clean.
What gets you fired up? Travelling and Eating. Another way of learning and growing!
What are you addicted to? Coffee. (Comes with the job). Chocolate (Can’t finish a meal without dessert!)
Person in coffee who inspires you: In the competition world it is definitely Agnieszka Rojewska. Her WBC 2018 performance had the most influence on me.
Quickfire questions:
Short back or flat white? Short black
Jandals or sneakers? sneakers
Washed or naturally processed? washed
Flying or super strength? flying
TDS or WTF? TDS
Downtown or out of town? Out of town
Name: Logan Collinge
Company: Mojo Coffee
Insta: @positively.coffee
What was your first introduction to coffee? Working as a kitchen hand in my mum’s cafe, I got used to drinking any kind of coffee.
What’s in your cup? Probably a long black but it depends where I am.
Why do you want to compete? Each time I compete I learn more about the efforts at origin and the changes within the industry.
Where do you hope to be in five years’ time? Ideally not locked-down, probably still in Wellington though.
What’s something you take from competitions into your everyday work life? I’ve learnt to have greater attention to detail which helps my day-to-day at work.
What gets you fired up? In a good way, talking with someone who’s just as passionate about something. Mainly music, spirits or coffee.
What are you addicted to? At the moment, really enjoying rums but not in a bad way. That or baking.
Person in coffee who inspires you: At the moment, Patrick Told.
Quickfire questions:
Short back or flat white? Flat white
Jandals or sneakers? Sneakers
Washed or naturally processed? Natural
Flying or super strength? Flying
TDS or WTF? WTF
Downtown or out of town? Downtown
Name: Nara Lee
Company: Handpicked Coffee Roasters
Insta: @handpickedcoffeenz
What was your first introduction to coffee? My partner asking me to share my thoughts about a cup of filter coffee years ago. Honey processed which was newly introduced and I got honey kind of flavour from the cup and since then I am a coffee drinker.
What’s in your cup? Love and smile
Why do you want to compete? Sharing my ideas to my fellow coffee people and showing my appreciation to the industry.
Where do you hope to be in five years’ time? In NZ mostly, but also want to go around other countries sharing good things.
What’s something you take from competitions into your everyday work life? It makes me think every day how can I improve my skills and how I can do something for others too.
What gets you fired up? A holiday.
What are you addicted to? Food
Person in coffee who inspires you: Han Sol Kim, my daily partner.
Quickfire questions:
Short back or flat white? flat white
Jandals or sneakers? sneakers
Washed or naturally processed? natural process
Flying or super strength? super strength
TDS or WTF? tds
Downtown or out of town? out of town
Name: Matt Ross
Company: Folk Brewers
Insta: @mattross09
What was your first introduction to coffee? My first introduction to speciation coffee was an amazing Ethiopian espresso from Coffee Lab!
What’s in your cup? Short black
Why do you want to compete? I love the spirit of the NZ competition scene, everyone is helping each other. I love the people I’ve met along the way and everything that I learn on the journey.
Where do you hope to be in five years’ time? hopefully with my own Roastery and NZ barista champ 😉
What’s something you take from competitions into your everyday work life? Precision and communication
What gets you fired up? Seeing customers light up in a conversation about learning new coffee things.
What are you addicted to? besides coffee? Puppy cuddles.
Person in coffee who inspires you: %100 Dove Chen. Amazing all-around human.
Quickfire questions:
Short back or flat white? short black
Jandals or sneakers? sneakers
Washed or naturally processed? Natural all the way
Flying or super strength? super strength
TDS or WTF? TDS
Downtown or out of town? out of town
Name: Woohyung Lee
Company: Camper coffee
Insta: @camper_coffee
What was your first introduction to coffee? My first coffee experience was an instant coffee Called ‘Maxim’ which my mum used to drink every day. At that time, I was around 12 🙂
What’s in your cup? Definitely any type of black coffee.
Why do you want to compete? I always get my motivations from competitions and also it is a big learning curve to me. As making coffee is my profession I need to get myself better.
Where do you hope to be in five years’ time? I don’t know really know what’s gonna happen in 5 years’ time but hopefully in NZ.
What’s something you take from competitions into your everyday work life? quality from each cup of coffee I serve.
What gets you fired up? Travelling with Family.
What are you addicted to? listen to Jazz.
Person in coffee who inspires you: Glen from Rocket! I love his humility! I don’t even need to mention his skill though 😃
Quickfire questions:
Short back or flat white? short black
Jandals or sneakers? Sneakers
Washed or naturally processed? washed
Flying or super strength? Super strength
TDS or WTF? TDS
Downtown or out of town? out of town
Name: Jae Ho Shin
Company: Tob Coffee
Insta: @jjj_hoxoxo
What was your first introduction to coffee? An Iced Americano at a small local cafe, when I was a student 🙂
What’s in your cup? My passion and love for coffee
Why do you want to compete? I want to give my self a new challenge to learn and grow up, and I want to present that I am happy when I make coffee for other people!
Where do you hope to be in five years’ time? Working as a good barista who gives huge inspiration to other people 🙂
What’s something you take from competitions into your everyday work life? Professionalism and attention to small details.
What gets you fired up? Perfect latte art on a flat white!
What are you addicted to? I know it may sound too lame, but I have to say drinking coffee 🙂
Person in coffee who inspires you: My great teacher Youngjin Cha
Quick fire questions:
Short back or flat white? Flat White!
Jandals or sneakers? Sneakers
Washed or naturally processed? Washed
Flying or super strength? Super strength
TDS or WTF? tds
Downtown or out of town? Out of town
Name: Frank Hsu
Company: Frank’s
Insta: @franks_coffee
What was your first introduction to coffee? Dark roast Mandheling Gold brewed in an Americano style coffee brewer at nine years old
What’s in your cup? gratitude
Why do you want to compete? I’ve got a cool concept to show the world
Where do you hope to be in five years’ time? travelling regularly to coffee plantations and hearing about their stories
What’s something you take from competitions into your everyday work life? A better way to introduce speciality coffee to day-to-day cafe visitors
What gets you fired up? a good opportunity
What are you addicted to? a good read
Person in coffee who inspires you: Any baristas and coffee professionals who make coffee responsibly and treat with customers with love and care inspires me
Quickfire questions:
Short back or flat white? short black
Jandals or sneakers? sneakers
Washed or naturally processed? washed
Flying or super strength? super strength
TDS or WTF? n/a
Downtown or out of town? out of town
Name: Shogo Shimoji
Company: Eighty-Eight Cafe
Insta: @showgo9080
What was your first introduction to coffee? My introduction to coffee was a latte from the Coffee Club at Bayfair shopping centre in Tauranga 3years ago I had a latte with latte art that was it. I was so impressed that I went back with my cv so that I could learn this great skill that has now turned into my passion.
What’s in your cup? Flat white
Why do you want to compete? Simply I love a big challenge for making coffee and the experience as a barista.
Where do you hope to be in five years’ time? I see myself 5 years from now running my own coffee shop either here in Tauranga New Zealand or in my home town of Yokohama japan sharing my passion for coffee with other coffee lovers.
What’s something you take from competitions into your everyday work? I’d love to share the experiences and passions I see at the competition with people who love to work with coffee.
What gets you fired up? When I have great coffee from an amazing barista.
What are you addicted to? V60 Costa Rica from Excelso cafe In Tauranga.
Person in coffee who inspires you: Brian from Eddies Cafe in Tauranga.
Quickfire questions:
Short back or flat white? flat white
Jandals or sneakers? jandals
Washed or naturally processed? natural processed
Flying or super strength? flying
TDS or WTF? WTF
Downtown or out of town? out of town
Name: Hanna Teramoto
Company: 3 Beans Coffee Roasters
Insta: @hannateramoto
What was your first introduction to coffee? My dad’s leftover in the morning.
What’s in your cup? Nothing – My best mental state.
Why do you want to compete? To challenge myself.
Where do you hope to be in five years’ time? Become a bridge for specialty coffee between NZ and Japan.
What’s something you take from competitions into your everyday work life? Self-training.
What gets you fired up? Kyudo (Japanese archery).
What are you addicted to? Japanese history (learning my roots).
Quickfire questions:
Short back or flat white? Both – Split shot.
Jandals or sneakers? Depends on the TPO.
Washed or naturally processed? Can’t choose!!
Flying or super strength? Flying.
TDS or WTF? Mostly TDS.
Downtown or out of town? Out of town.
Further details:
Don’t forget to come on down and support your favourite Barista:
Saturday 5 September: Heats 9 am – 4:30 pm
Sunday 6 September: Final 11 am – 3:30 pm.
Expressions Arts & Entertainment Centre | 836 Fergusson Drive | Upper Hutt 5140 | New Zealand.
You can vote for them in our “People’s Choice”> section soon!