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Training to become a Starbucks partner (as the company’s baristas are known) is no simple affair. These passionate coffee lovers undergo many months immersing themselves in coffee knowledge and lore, with a hands-on curriculum crafted by the world renowned Starbucks Global Academy.

“We love recognising the hard work our partners invest in finetuning their craft,” says Ishan Natalie, Coffee Exellence Lead at Rand Capital Coffee Licensee Holder Starbucks SA. “That’s why the District Barista Championships are always such an exciting event.”

Ishan explains that the competition was introduced by Starbucks several years before the company entered the South African market in 2016, when it was eagerly embraced by local partners.

The competition starts with the Store Championships, with winners from this leg going on to compete in the District Championships, which took place in March. The Regional Championships, which were held in May, saw partners from the KwaZulu-Natal, Western Cape and Central region (comprising Gauteng and the Free State) will battle it out for a chance to take part in the National Barista Championships in June. The winner of this coveted title goes on to compete in the Starbucks EMEA Championships in London, where 37-46 other national champions from the European, Middle East and Africa will showcase their Coffee Knowledge, Creativity and Passion in the hopes of being named the Starbucks EMEA brand ambassador – and, more importantly, have a chance to compete in the Global Championships.

This year, 83 partners from Starbucks’ 72 stores around the country raised their hands to take part in the championships. Each was expected to show their expertise in different categories, including latte art, coffee quality and storytelling, where they share their knowledge about the beverage. “Our champions are expected to show how they uphold the Starbucks mission and values, as well as our exacting standards. The competition also gives them an opportunity to show their personality and coffee leadership, explaining their methods and why they do what they do. We’re looking for people who are able to connect and engage through coffee.

“Even if you are not selected as our overall winner, you may still receive recognition for your skill in a particular area,” Ishan points out. Recognition is, after all, a key driver of these awards: “We are well aware that there is nothing average about our partners. They work extremely hard, and their understanding of coffee and its journey from seed to cup, and we want to celebrate this. It’s an acknowledgement of the advanced training they have received and put to use every day to create an unparalleled experience,” says Ishan.

The three partners who went on to shine at the Regional Championships, chosen from the original 33 Store Champions, were Mduduzi Mvana, shift supervisor at Starbucks Pavilion, representing KwaZulu-Natal; Thabo Gift Preya, barista at Starbucks Preller in Bloemfontein, and Johannesburg contestant Nathan Bobraine, shift supervisor at Starbucks Clearwater. Also in the running were Kabelo Majoro of Starbucks Irene in Pretoria, and Anathi April of Starbucks V&A Waterfront, Yibanathi Jongihlathi of Starbucks FX Durbanville, and Siphamandla Betana of Starbucks FX Stellenbosch.

Of these finalists, three contestants emerged as clear winners: congratulations to Gauteng/Central Champion Kabelo, Western Cape Champion Siphamandla and KwaZulu-Natal Champion Mduduzi.

“I've always looked for ways of improving my skills and knowledge of coffee, and I believe the best way to do that is to use the platform Starbucks gives us to compete against each other in selecting the best barista for the year. The feeling of losing and winning inspires me to look for new highs in my career as a barista,” says Kabelo. Siphamandla, meanwhile, hopes to inspire others through his success. I want to use the championship as a platform to grow not just as a barista, but as a leader, storyteller and representative of the Starbucks mission. My goal is to inspire other partners, especially those from underrepresented communities, to believe in their craft and step into their full potential. Winning is an honor, but more than that, I hope this journey encourages others to pursue excellence, take bold steps and realize that greatness starts with one cup and one moment of courage.” For Mduduzi, it’s all about using coffee as a platform for expanding excellence. “I want to be the champion and be the best in the coffee world. Because I believe that would give me exposure to more coffee experiences; and add those experiences, with my craft, to change the world,” he says.

“We are extremely proud of all our Champions and wish them the very best as they move to the next stage in this thrilling competition,” Ishan concludes.