Meet the People – Aotearoa Barista Champs 2026

Dates: Friday 18th September – Preliminary
Saturday 19th September – Finals

Venue: AUT WG Building – 74 Governor Fitzroy Place, Auckland CBD

More details on the competiton here.

People’s Choice voting and Full Schedule coming soon!

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Competitor Line Up:

Jasmine Bower representing Rook, Christchurch (Prima Roastery, Barista Open Winner)

Charlotte Green representing Swimsuit Coffee, Wellington (L’affare, Barista Open Winner)

Heesun Lee representing Atomic Coffee Roasters, Auckland

Samara Xia Huang representing Good Jo Coffee, Queenstown (Wolf Coffee Roasters, Barista Open Winner)

Pinja Mäkipää representing All You Knead, Whangārei (Sabio Coffee, Barista Open Winner)

Yrjo Galvez representing Decent Packaging, Auckland

Alan Bruce representing Acme Cup Co., Wellington

Nelson Ik Run Soon representing Starbucks New Zealand, Auckland

Matt Ross representing Kindred, Tauranga

Kyle Cabangun representing Rook & Bean Soup, Christchurch

Jenna Phillips representing Sacred Grounds, Taupō

John Gordon representing Silverback Coffee Solutions/Pegasus Coffee Systems, Auckland

Yejun Shim representing Slow Koi, Auckland

Gong Xuan Yeoh representing Parable House, Auckland

Josh Peacocke representing Mojo Coffee, Auckland

—————————————————————————————————————————————————The Aotearoa Barista Champs 2026 is kindly supported by:

  • Principal Sponsor: Confirmed three-year 2024/25/26 Meadow Fresh

Sponsors:

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