SA has new coffee champs

South Africa’s top coffee champions were crowned at the Good Food & Wine Show. The winners were Lovejoy Chirambasukwa (Barista Champion) from Cape Town; Ishan Natalie (Aeropress) from Pretoria; Gauteng’s Phumlani Sibeko (Latte Art) and KZN’s Maxine Keet (Cup Tasting).

Two champion South African coffee makers - Lovejoy Chirambasukwa and Maxine Keet - will be representing this country at upcoming international events.

Four new South African Barista Champions were crowned at the National Coffee Championships at The Good Food & Wine Show in Johannesburg.

The National Barista Championship title went to Lovejoy Chirambasukwa, 31, (Western Cape) from Origin Coffee Roastery.

Lovejoy, originally from Zimbabwe, moved to South Africa in 2009 and started training as a barista under trainers Jake Easton and Wayne Oberholzer.

“It means four years of hard work come to fruition. I have learned a great deal since first entering this competition two years ago. My coffee career started in SA and I’m grateful for the opportunity to represent SA at the World Barista Championships in Melbourne next year.”
Maxine Keet (KZN) took honours in the Cup Tasters Championship and will compete in Nice, France in the World Championships in 2013.

“I feel amazing. Words can’t describe how hard my heart is pumping. Cupping is my passion. Nice here I come! ”

Phumlani Sibeko (Gauteng), from Stil.Coffee won the Latte Art division.

“Latte art is special to me - it’s part of the presentation and gives the customer something to remember. Latte art is the start of the experience and tells you immediately about the care that’s gone into making the cup of coffee.”

Two-time former SA Barista Champion, Ishan Natalie (Gauteng) from Tribeca Coffee won the Aeropress division, the newest division in the Championships.

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