Zarraffa's Coffee Crowns Winners of the 2024 Battle of the Baristas Competition
Saxon and David from Zarraffa’s Coffee Cleveland have been announced as the winners of the annual Battle of the Baristas competition for 2024.
The flavourful showdown that is the Battle of the Baristas competition pits Zarraffa’s skilled baristas against one another in a series of challenges designed to test timeliness, precision, creativity, speed and taste.
Held at the Zarraffa’s Coffee headquarters in Eagleby, this year’s event welcomed competitors from all corners of the Zarraffa’s store network, including Franchisees, Store Managers, and experienced Baristas, all hoping to be crowned overall champions.
Using Zarraffa’s Coffee signature coffee beans, teams crafted flawless espressos, lattes and a signature drink, all under the pressure of a strict time limit.
This year’s champions, Saxon and David from Zarraffa’s Coffee Cleveland, took out the competition in a nail-biting finale against Dillon and Taylah from Zarraffa’s Coffee Helensvale.
“Each store can enter multiple teams, for a total of more than sixty teams”, said Zarraffa’s Coffee CEO Marnie Sheldon.
“It’s thrilling and fast-paced with head-to-head matchups, that heighten the friendly rivalry while entertaining the audience with a diverse range of coffee-making talents.”
The competing teams are scored by six judges with one timekeeper and one head judge, ensuring consistency and fairness across the judging panel. The panel is made up of previous competitors and winners who bring their experiences to the judging roles. This year’s judges included:
Connor: a third time judge and Store Manager from Zarraffa’s Coffee Pimpama, whose family has been part of the Zarraffa’s family since 2007.
Jess: from Zarraffa’s Coffee Anzac Avenue, also judging for her third year, joined Zarraffa’s in 2010 as part of the Toowoomba South opening team.
Talei: a previous competitor from Zarraffa’s Coffee Victoria Point who claimed first place in 2021, now stepping into her first year as a judge.
Keyur and Leah: Franchisees since 2007 (Currumbin and Tugun) and 2012 (Loganlea and Yamanto) respectively, both bringing fresh perspectives as first-time judges. year, I’m inspired by the dedication and creativity our baristas bring to this competition,” said Zarraffa’s
“Every year, I’m inspired by the craftsmanship and creativity our Baristas bring to this competition. The Battle of the Baristas is a true celebration of the skill and passion that sets our team apart. It’s a privilege to witness their talent firsthand,” said Marnie.
“For almost 30 years we have known that what we do is always more than just a cup of coffee. It’s a shared experience that brings people together. The energy and dedication displayed during the competition reflects the strong sense of community and passion within our brand.”
“Congratulations to Saxon and David. I’m proud of all our competitors and judges who contributed to making this event a success. Their hard work and enthusiasm are what truly makes Zarraffa’s a leader in the coffee industry.”
Founded in 1996, Zarraffa’s Coffee has grown to become a leader in specialty coffee in Australia, with a commitment to serving premium, hand-crafted beverages. The brand’s focus on quality, community, and customer satisfaction has been at the core of its success.