About:

5 of Australia's best baristas and 5 of New Zealand's best baristas battle it out to hold the title of The Da Vinci Trans Tasman Barista Champions.

This challenge is designed to reproduce the pressure of what happens in great espresso bars around the world.  Under time pressure, baristas must co-operate as a team.  

The three things which matter to espresso coffee customers around the world are:

1.    Great Taste 
2.    Great Artistry
3.    Great Speed

It is a RACE to serve the maximum number of drinks with as much art and espresso taste as possible.

Justin Metcalf
Justin Metcalf is one of Australia’s most recognised coffee identities.

His passion has led to an active involvement in the speciality roasting industry, where he has established a reputation as a Master Roaster. 

Justin’s high profile throughout the coffee industry has recently led to

the establishment of his own signature coffees distributed by Coles Supermarkets. Justin's goal is to empower aspiring barista's with a knowledge, skill and passion for espresso second to none.

Zoe Delany
With a smile that lights up the room, Zoe Delany has an enthusiasm

towards her coffee that is too hard to ignore. She believes that coffee is a way of life: the social lubricant that has allowed her to meet so many people from around the world who share her passion. Zoe has been a trainer for Michel’s Espresso and Sunbeam and now heads up the highly successful internet coffee business, Coffee Hit.  Zoe joined the Da Vinci Trans Tasman team in 2007.

David Makin
David is the five times, Victorian Barista of the Year, 2006 and 2008 Australian Barista of the Year and placed 2nd at the 2008 World Barista Championships in Copenhagen. David Makin has been a professional barista for 10 years.  After owning and operating several cafes he continues to work within the coffee roasting industry and has opened his own barista studio aimed at training the very best baristas.

Anne Cooper
Anne has been in the coffee industry for 18 years and has had the opportunity to work at all levels within the industry - as barista, cafe

owner, trainer with William Angliss Coffee Academy and National Barista Trainer for The Coffee Club Franchise.  Anne has also been involved in the AASCA Barista competitions where she was the QLD Barista Champion, 2006-2008 and a judge at the 2009 State and National competitions. Annes' coffee adventures now find her on the manufacturing and purchasing side of the industry as Roasting Manager of Di Bella Coffee.

 

Habib Maarbani
Habib graduated with distinction from a Bachelor of Commerce in 2004, however working with people was and still is his preferred occupation.  Currently a co-owner of Morgan’s Kitchen in Liverpool, Sydney he has been making coffee for 6 years enticing his customers with great coffee to create a feeling of community around his business. Habib loves the buzz of being behind the coffee machine and pumping out coffees to a whole load of regulars - like all his mates have come around for coffee.  

Chris White
Chris is the founder of the “Altura Coffee” company based on the North Shore in Auckland. Not only is Chris an experienced and talented Roaster and café owner, but he is also on the Judges Committee for the World Barista Championships. It is great to see competition judges putting themselves on the line!

Emma Markland-Webster
Nelson-based Emma works for Atomic Coffee Roasters.  She holds the title of NZ’s highest ranked female barista, she represented NZ in the year 2002 with a WBC ranking of 5th and is also a World Barista Championship judge. Emma is one of the key organizers for the New

Zealand Barista Championships and a stalwart of our industry.

Luciano Marcolino
Luciano is a two time New Zealand Barista Champion. Luciano has represented New Zealand twice at the WBC in Berne and in Copenhagen he finished an extremely credible 7th on both occasions. Luciano works in his own café aptly named “Luciano” in Christchurch.

Carl Sara
Carl is the current New Zealand Barista Champion and is representing

New Zealand in the WBC Atlanta in the middle of April 2009. Carl also holds 3 previous WBC finals placings. Carl is the co-owner of 2 Muffin Break Cafes in Christchurch, New Zealand.

David Huang
David is a long time competitive barista with several National finals

under his belt. David took home a 3rd place spot in this years NZ

Champs guaranteeing himself a position to travel with the New

Zealand Team to WBC Atlanta 09. David is Owner/Operator of “Espresso Workshop”, a boutique coffee roaster and espresso bar in Auckland.

 

Hideyuki Kono
Christchurch based Hide works for Vivace Espresso. He has been

competing in  WBC format competitions since  2006 and finished 2nd

in this years National Barista Championships. Hide is an extremely

talented barista who is hoping to improve his skills even further by

joining the New Zealand WBC team in Atlanta.