Over the last few years, Barista competitions and the skills of a good Barista have been getting more and more recognition, but still too few cafe’s engage a qualified Barista to make their coffee. Grinders is committed to providing quality Barista training and to educating the consumer on the importance of a qualified Barista making their coffee. A natural extension to this is supporting Barista competitions.

This competition will give skilled Baristas the opportunity to show off how quickly and efficiently they can make good coffee using their favourite coffee beans. The goal of the competition is to highlight the skill required to make excellent coffee. The competitors will be assessed on their speed, efficient use of equipment, choice of beans and ability to deliver a coffee up to the standard that they describe.

Richard Bradbury is Grinders Coffee Victorian trainer, a judge at the austral-asian specialty coffee state and national titles, and head judge for this year’s festival. “We are very proud to support the Viva Italia festival with the inaugural Barista competition. Coffee competitions provide a chance for the public to see the regions very best coffee makers strut their stuff on stage.” And it’s good for the cafes and restaurants that support their coffee makers to enter. “We see these competitors honing their skills for competition and then getting back into the workplace with fantastic abilities. The customers see the difference in every cup, and the owners love the buzz that comes from having a top Barista in the business.”

The Barista competition will be a highlight of this year Viva Italia festival held over the weekend of Friday 19th of March to Sunday 21st of March 2010. Grinders Coffee will host the event in conjunction with Business Wangaratta.

This event will provide an excellent forum for cafes and restaurants to show off the quality of their coffee and their Baristas. Competitors will have the opportunity to bring along their favourite beans and crockery to truly highlight what they do well. All interested competitors should contact Malcolm Bradbury for an entry form on 03 5721 2690 or email

This competition will be one of the many great entertainments on offer at Wangaratta's Viva Italia festival held at Apex Park in Wangaratta over the weekend of Friday 19th of March to Sunday 21st of March. Featuring all things Italian, the Viva Italia festival will be a great weekend of food, wine and entertainment by the banks of the beautiful Ovens River. To find out more visit: www.vivaitaliawangaratta.org.au