Aotearoa Barista Champs 2024

Ticket sales will close on Friday 6 September 2024 unless sold out prior.

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

All registered competing baristas may attend the Championship workshop for free. They must still register here>

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The main Barista Championship will occur in October 2024, six months after the regional events. You do not have to enter via the regional feeder events, however, positions to compete will be restricted to the top four in each region. They will take precedence in the competitor list if they choose to compete.

Each regional Champion will secure a space to compete in the national event as part of their prize package.

Places second to fourth will have reserved positions, their regional positions cover half of their entry fee. As a regional place-getter, you still need to enter via this channel before the entry opening. Further details on how to enter will follow the regional event.

Who will take the crown of Aotearoa Barista Champion 2024? This truly is the main event for Baristas in New Zealand.

The winner will represent NZ at the World Barista Championship 2025. Flights and accommodation will be covered as part of the champion's prize.

The People's Champion will win all the bragging rights, assorted goodies, and a bar tab.

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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 5 October – National heats

Sunday 6 October – Final

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

Machines: La Marzocco two group Linea Classic S. 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: Mythos MY75 set at 30 degrees

Full rules and regulations:

Code of Conduct and NZBC Rules.

WBC Rules 2024 

Sensory Scoresheet> Technical Scoresheet> Head Judge Scoresheet> 

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, Mythos NZ, AMC, Acme Cup Co, Cafetto, Monin, MILKLAB, and Cofinet

The schedule:

• Friday 4 October: 10 am - 4 pm Judge's calibration, (invitation only) on-site
• Friday 4 October: 4 pm Competitor briefing, on-site
• Saturday 5 October: 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 6 October: 10:30 am - 3 pm Final
• 4:30 pm (approx.) Announcement of Champion

Please view the NZSCA ticketing terms & conditions here>