Aotearoa Barista Champs 2025

Ticket sales will open Monday the 28th April 9am for all. 

Entry: Places to compete, member company $400 + GST & Non-Member $500 + GST

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The Road to the Aotearoa Barista Championship 2025

The main event — the Aotearoa Barista Champs 2025 — will take place this October, four months after the regional competitions.

You do not need to compete at regionals to enter Nationals; however, spots to compete are limited. Priority will be given to the top four competitors from each regional event, who will have first access to entry.

🏅 Regional Champions automatically secure a place at Nationals as part of their prize package.
🥈 2nd to 4th place finishers will also have spots reserved for them and receive 50% off their entry fee.

These reserved spots must be claimed via a special entry channel before general entries open on the 28 April. Details on how to register will be shared directly with place-getters after each regional event.

🏆 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 go on to represent Aotearoa at the World Barista Championship 2026, with flights and accommodation included as part of the prize.

🌏 With Thanks to Our Principal Sponsor – Meadow Fresh

Supporting the journey from Aotearoa to the world stage:

• Champion: 🏆 $2,000 to assist with world travel, training, and practice milk
  (Ambassador role with Meadow Fresh to be confirmed)
• Runner-Up: 🥈 $1,000 contribution
• Third Place: 🥉 $500 contribution

Proudly backing excellence in specialty coffee and the incredible baristas who drive it.

🎉 The People's Champion

Walks away with bragging rights, assorted goodies, and a bar tab — because the people will always have their own champion.

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The World Barista Championship organization (WBC) has licensed The New Zealand Specialty Coffee Association (NZSCA) to run the New Zealand Barista Championships since 2008 into the future.

The NZSCA is committed to running the event in close accordance with WBC standards. Our focus is on producing a field of finalists capable of competing successfully at an international level, and of course, a winner who can excel at the world finals.

If you are keen to compete, there are a few things you should consider. Running to the WBC standards is time-consuming and means we can put only 20 contestants through in a day. If there are more than 20 entrants for the championship, we will conduct a selection process, awarding entry to those competitors we consider best able to excel in competition conditions. Information provided by entrants at the time of entry is essential to help us make a sound selection.

Dates and venue: Whirinaki Whare Toanga Arts and Entertainment Centre, 836 Fergusson Drive, Upper Hutt

Saturday 23 August – National heats

Sunday 24 August – Final

Competitors, trainers, mentors, and judges, ensure you read the WBC Rules, Scoresheets, and Code of Conduct.

Machines: La Marzocco two group.  Per the rules, the two group machines' temperatures are set at the mid-point between 90.5 - 96c. The baskets are 17g La Marzocco precision baskets. Other than the practice times that will be noted on the schedule, there are no practice times available or time on the machine on-site or in the Wellington region.

Grinders: TBC

Full rules and regulations:

Code of Conduct and NZBC Rules.

WBC 2025 Rules will be used

Follow updates of the championship on Facebook, Instagram, and our newsletters

Any questions regarding the champs? Contact emma@nzsca.org at 021 415 810

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The NZ Barista Championship 2024 is kindly supported by:

Principle Sponsor: Meadow Fresh

Sponsors: La Marzocco, AMC, Acme Cup Co, Cafetto, Monin, MILKLAB

The schedule:

• Friday 22: 10 am - 4 pm Judge's calibration, (invitation only) on-site
• Friday 22: 4 pm Competitor briefing, on-site
• Saturday 23: 8 am - 5 pm (8:30 am Stage performance starts) TBC based on final numbers
• 4 pm (approx.) announcement of finalists debrief for competitors not continuing
• Sunday 24: 10:30 am - 3 pm Final
• 4:30 pm (approx.) Announcement of Champion

Please view the NZSCA ticketing terms & conditions here>