Starbucks Names Global Barista Champion At Its Proprietary Global Barista Championship – CoffeeTalk

Starbucks has announced Nobuki Shimode, a store manager from Japan, as the winner of its inaugural Global Barista Championship held in Las Vegas. Contestants were tasked with crafting two lattes topped with latte art, pouring four cups of coffee from a French press, and creating a signature beverage in just eight minutes. Shimode drew inspiration for his signature drink, the Blooming Yuzu Espresso, from his mother’s coffee, describing it as a refreshing beverage with citrus notes and a sweet aftertaste that appeals to both coffee enthusiasts and those averse to coffee.

Shimode emerged victorious from a competitive field of 12 baristas, selected from an initial pool of 84,000 Starbucks employees who participated in regional competitions. Throughout the championship, competitors faced various challenges, including creating intricate latte art and identifying specific coffee roasts through blind tasting. Among them, Chico Gu from the Reserve Roastery in Shanghai dedicated two weeks to memorize flavors, while Ivan Diana from the Starbucks Reserve Roastery in Milan trained extensively in the months leading up to the event. Cali Hegeman from the Chicago Reserve Roastery also invested significant training time, even changing her hair color to match her signature drink, the Undertow.

In preparation for the championship, Shimode delayed his honeymoon and spent three months avoiding spicy foods to enhance his palate for the blind taste test. As the first global champion, he will have the opportunity to co-create a new beverage to be sold at Starbucks locations across North America and will also receive a grand prize that includes a trip to all six Starbucks Roastery Reserves.

Upon returning to his store in Japan, Shimode plans to collaborate with his colleagues, acknowledging the support he received from his family and coworkers during his preparation for the competition.

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