London-based Egle Stuksyte, who works for BaxterStorey at Gazprom Marketing and Trading Ltd, has been crowned winner of the BaxterStorey Barista Championships 2017, which showcases exceptional talent from across the UK and Europe.
Following two months of hard-fought regional heats where over 50 baristas across England, Ireland, Scotland, Wales and Brussels, 16 semi-finalists took to the stage at the Salvation Army International Headquarters in London.
The judges had chosen the six finalists by lunchtime, and they then spent the afternoon demonstrating their creative flair and in-depth coffee knowledge through their 10 minute presentation. After an intense afternoon, Stuksyte was announced as the winner.
Stuksyte took inspiration from her trips to Morocco, with her signature drink made of coffee caviar, Moroccan spiced infused espresso and condensed milk.
Jana Slamova, BaxterStorey Barista Trainer and the UK Barista Championships finalist, said, “The competing baristas highlight the incredible level of talent within our business. Our competitors showcased incredible talent to a panel of experienced judges who represent the top of the UK coffee industry.
“The competition offers an opportunity for our baristas to be recognised for their passion and talent. We hope it continues to inspire, and arms them with the skills and confidence they need to produce quality coffee for our clients across our many locations.”
Dale Harris, 2017 World Barista Champion, was in attendance to help judge the competition. Speaking of the finalists, he said, “It was a fierce competition with so many talented baristas vying for the top spot. The trend for different approaches to coffee continues to grow, so it’s been great to see how each finalist experiments with their tools, coffees and other ingredients to create some exceptional drinks. However, Egle’s Moroccan inspired presentation and drinks really worked”.
BaxterStorey’s Brussels team dominated the top three with Remy Poirot achieving second place, and Erica Lemestre taking third.