Get excited, REGIONAL’s are HAPPENING again in 2025

Ticket sales are now open and will close once sold out.

Entry: Places to compete, member company $200 inc GST & Non-Member $250 inc GST

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, half of their entry fee is covered by their regional positions. As a regional place-getter, you still need to enter via this channel prior to the entry opening. As a regional place getter, details on how, will follow the regional event. Previous NZ Barista champions may compete at a regional event, but shall not rank or be legible for any prizes within the regions.

What’s happening for Barista Champs?

We are bringing you parred-down Barista events to the regions in March/April. Get out your 2025 calendars, there are more events for baristas than ever!

Then the big event to showcase all that talent, The Aotearoa New Zealand Barista Champs will be held on Saturday 23 – Sunday 24 August 2025.

What are the regionals about?

We are breaking down the barriers to entry by focusing on what baristas know. It’s all about knowing your coffee and serving it with great customer service. No signature drink in the regions, just espresso and milk beverages.

You bring your coffee and presentation. We will provide the machine, grinder, milk, cups, spoons even the milk jugs and tamper if you need it. Table decoration and all the other stuff are actively discouraged. Baristas may bring menus to assist in describing their coffee, however, this still needs to be verbalised during the competition time.

Similar to the main event you will have to pour four (4) x espresso and four (4) x milk beverages to two (2) scoring sensory judges and two (2) guest non-scoring sensory judges, one (1) technical judge, and a one (1) head judge. All competitors will receive a full debrief on their performances to set them up for the main event. You don’t have to go on to compete in the main event, but we would love to see you there!

You will have 5 mins to dial in and 11 mins to present.

There will be three (3) regional titles and prizes TBC. Places 2-4 will receive a reserved space to compete in the national event if they wish.

Full Rules and Regulations for regional events can be found here>

Sensory Scoresheet Regional

Technical Scoresheet Regional

Regional workshop 26th Feb 2025 free for competitors registered prior to Feb 17th and compulsory for all judges>

When is it all happening?

Aotearoa Barista Champs ’24 Regionals Dates:

Sunday 30 March Christchurch/Ōtautahi Sunday, venue TBC

Sunday 6 April Wellington/Te Whanganui a Tara Sunday, venue TBC

Sunday 13 April Auckland/Tāmaki Makaurau Sunday, venue TBC

Aotearoa Barista Champs ’24

Whirinaki Whare Taonga, 836 Fergusson Drive, Upper Hutt / Te Awa Kairangi ki Uta

Saturday 23 August – Round one

Sunday 24 August – Final

Judge’s workshops and set up will be held the day before each event. Rules and regulations and all the details are being worked through and will be published shortly.

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The main Barista Championship will take place later in 2025 four months after the regional events. You do not have to enter via the regional feeder events though positions to compete will be restricted as the top 4 in each regional will earn a place in the barista lineup if they choose to compete.

Who will take the Crown of NZ Barista Champion 2025? This truly is the main event for Baristas in New Zealand.

The winner will represent at the World Barista Championship 2026. Flights and accommodation will be covered as part of the champion's prize

The People's Champion: all the bragging rights and assorted goodies and a bar tab, for the people's favourite.

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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 from 2008 into the future.

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. This means the information entrants provide us at the time of entry is particularly important, to help us make a sound selection.

Competitors, trainers, mentors, and judges, make sure you read up on the WBC Rules, Scoresheets, and Code of Conduct.

Full rules and regulations:

Code of Conduct and NZBC Rules.

WBC Rules 2024

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 2025 is kindly supported by:

Principle Sponsor: Meadow Fresh

Machinery: La Marzocco NZ

Grinder: Open TBC

Syrup: MONIN

Cleaning Supplies: Cafetto

Equipment: AMC Roastery Supply

Ceramics/Porcelain: Acme Cup Co

Barista tools: Open

Plant-based milk: MILKLAB

Green coffee supply: Open

Event partners: Open

Regional Venue Host Sponsors: TBC

Please view the NZSCA code of conduct ticketing terms and conditions here>