Coffee craftsmanship and artistry come together at the Julius Meinl Barista Cup. This year, hundreds of talented baristas from around the world applied for a chance to showcase their exceptional skills and passion. The top applicants were selected to compete in national events, with each winner earning a coveted spot in the grand finale.
JULIUS MEINL BARISTA CUP 2024
JULIUS MEINL BARISTA CUP 2024
After an amazing journey, 12 top Julius Meinl baristas from around the world travelled to our historic headquarters in Vienna to compete in the Grand Finale.
Congratulations to Raffy Vajio, our first ever international barista champion, who had the highest overall score at the finale. Raffy is the head barista at Atlantis The Royal and represented the UAE.
The winners of the individual categories were:
- Espresso: Vladimir Chzou (Red Rabbit) representing Moldova.
- Cappuccino: Luca Riccardi (Bar Attymo) representing Italy.
- Signature Drink: Mario Benetseder (Café Orchidee) representing Austria.
THE BARISTAS
THE JUDGES
TIM STURK
HEAD JUDGE
Founder and Director of Coffee Education at Coffee Cherry Training. Sturk is a licensed Q Grader and World Coffee Events Certified Judge, and has been dedicated to improving in-cup coffee quality in the HoReCa industry for over a decade.
ANGELIKA GALAS
TECHNICAL JUDGE
Galas is the Head of Coffee Academy at the Julius Meinl Group, training hundreds of employees and customers each year, many at the SCA level. The Coffee Academy and its education program is integral to the exceptional support Julius Meinl provides to its customers across the world.
AGNIESZKA ROJEWSKA
SENSORY JUDGE
2018 World Barista Champion and 2022 World Coffee in Good Spirits Champion, Rojewska has garnered numerous accolades and has become a prominent figure in the specialty coffee community. Rojewska is also a dedicated mentor and educator.
ALI VOGEL
SENSORY JUDGE
Vogel is the 2024 Austrian Latte Art Champion 2024 with extensive competition experience. He is a true ambassador of Vienna’s rich coffee culture, owning his own café and micro-roastery in Vienna, Vogel Kaffee.
THE PRIZE
At the Grand Finale, the barista with the highest overall score and top scoring barista in each category will be awarded a coveted spot on an exclusive trip to Honduras, where Julius Meinl sources Fairtrade coffee for The Originals Bio Fairtrade range.
The once-in-a-lifetime adventure offers a unique opportunity for the baristas to immerse themselves in Honduras’ rich coffee culture and develop their knowledge of coffee cultivation.
The baristas will visit a coffee cooperative and coffee farms, gaining firsthand insight into the journey from bean to cup.
THE CATEGORIES
Espresso
In the Espresso category, competitors will be judged on both visual appeal and taste, aiming for the perfect extraction of Julius Meinl's Belvedere Blend.
1. Judges will examine the crema, the golden layer that crowns a top quality espresso.
2. Judges will evaluate the espresso's flavour profile, from its balance and complexity, to its richness and clarity.
Cappuccino
In the Cappuccino category, baristas will be judged on both the visual appeal of Latte Art and on the quality of the taste experience.
1. Judges will closely evaluate the key steps of the milk preparation process.
2. Judges will evaluate whether the cappuccino has a harmonious blend of espresso and milk.
3. Judges will assess the visual presentation of the cappuccino’s latte art, such as symmetry and clarity of the pattern.
Signature drink
In the Signature Drink category, baristas must craft a visually appealing and flavourful coffee-based beverage that highlights their creativity and skill.
1. Judges will evaluate the presentaion of the drink for creatvity and visual appeal.
2. Judges will evaluate how well the taste components of the beverage fit together and complement each other in the total consumption experience.
OUR SPONSORS
Designed and produced in Italy with almost a century of experience, Rancilio coffee machines are globally renowned for their exceptional craftsmanship and quality. The Rancilio Specialty RS1 is the professional coffee machine that will be used by competitors in the regional and global competitions.
Fiorenzato has been designing and manufacturing high performance professional grinders for over 80 years, capable of making perfect grinds countless times in a row for state-of-the art coffee. Competitors will use the professional F83 E PRO grinder in the regional and global competitions.
Cafetto is a specialist manufacturer of cleaning and sanitation products for espresso, coffee brewing and dispensing equipment, providing a clean machine and perfect tasting cup every time. Cafetto is proud to be supporting the industry and talented baristsa behind the machine as the Official Cleaning Products Partner.
BWT is dedicated to water, which plays a crucial role in creating the perfect coffee and the protection of your coffee machine. BWT offers innovative solutions to raise the sensory quality of water for gastronomy. The competition will use the innovative BWT bestaqua ROC systems with unique reverse osmosis technology setting new standards in water optimisation.
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About us
Julius Meinl has been bringing customers premium coffee and tea since 1862, serving premium hot drinks. With over 150 years of experience and innovation behind us, we share our expertise and unique service culture with coffee houses, hotels, restaurants and other businesses.
Coffee expertise
Premium coffee starts with tropical sun and volcanic soil in the coffee growing regions 23°N – 25°S of the equator. After harvesting, it’s transported for blending, roasting and packing. The journey involves many delicate stages which demand experience, skill and quality control.
Tea expertise
Premium tea is the culmination of all sorts of elements, from sunshine and soil, to picking, rolling, blending and much more.