L-R Champion August Hislop, Runner up Toby Oliver Chen, Third place Woohyung Lee, Fourth place Joshua Kim Photo Credit: Justin Park
A Game of Taste, Precision, and a Whole Lot of Heart
The Aotearoa Cup Tasters Championship is a game of taste, a test of the mind, and a challenge of accuracy and speed. But behind the scenes, it’s also a massive undertaking, brewing hundreds of litres of coffee and coordinating a fast-paced, high-energy event.
It all came together in just four and a half hours of competition on Sunday, 15 June, at The Sapphire Room in Ponsonby, Auckland.
First and foremost, we want to extend our heartfelt thanks to the incredible volunteers all 22, who gave their time and energy on what could have been a lazy Sunday. Your mahi made this event possible. Thank you for showing up, for taking on the hard and often unglamorous tasks, and for being such a vital part of what makes this community so special. We truly appreciate you.
The triangulations were set using 9 of the 12 coffees sourced by our principal sponsor, John Burton Ltd, and roasted by Charlie from Little Drum. All coffees were available to taste on-site and were also packed for attendees to take home. From washed Kenyans to Ethiopian naturals, the line-up offered a delicious and diverse range of taste profiles, designed to challenge even the most skilled cuppers.
What a Weekend for Cupping!
A massive thank you to our amazing community, sponsors, and cuppers, you brought the energy, the skill, and the spirit.
It was a full-on day, with 36 competitors all slurping hard for the win. Congratulations to everyone who took part, and a special shoutout to August Hislop, our Aotearoa Cup Tasters Champion for 2025. This was her fourth attempt at the title, proving that the fourth time really is the charm.
Toby Oliver Chen and Joshua Kim held strong in the top four from round one right through to the finals. All finalists achieved a perfect 8/8 score in under five minutes, setting the stage for an intense and nail-biting finish.
In the end, it all came down to speed. August secured the win with a blistering time of 1:53, with the remaining finalists close behind, all finishing within four minutes.
Final Results:
Champion: August Hislop, Atomic Coffee 8/8 1:53
Runner Up: Toby Olivier Chen, Flight Coffee 8/8 2:35
Third place: Woohyung Lee, Holiday, Auckland 7/8 3:10
Fourth place: Joshua Kim, Holiday, Auckland 7/8 3:27
Many thanks goes out to our sponsors, who not only make this competition possible but also roll up their sleeves and pitch in when needed.
Principal: John Burton Ltd
Sponsors:
- Cleaning Supplies: Cafetto
- Equipment: AMC Roastery Supply
- Ceramics/Porcelain: Acme Cup Co
- Espresso Machinery: La Marzocco NZ
Event partner/s: Meadow Fresh
Official photos by Justin Park to follow.