Who's Invited?

coffee roasters
beverage suppliers, manufactures and distributors
equipment importers and suppliers
equipment maintenance
packaging, glassware and crockery
liquor suppliers, manufactures and distributors
cocktail and bar equipment and accessories
sound systems
training
furniture and fittings
interior design
security systems
other coffee and beverage related products

Coffee and Beverage

Sample a frothy blend of flavours - tea, beer, spirits, soft drinks, water, and, of course, coffee industry exhibitors will be brewing up a stimulating package of innovations, demonstrations, seminars, and workshops at this must-see event.

This is where your customers will go to drink in all the latest products and techniques, and then witness the The Da Vinci Gourmet Trans Tasman Barista Championship and Flair Bartending Championships where the best New Zealand and Australian talent will battle it out for top honours.

Bar Culture 2009

Now in its third year as a CONQUEST Magazine sponsored event, this competition just gets better and better.

New Zealand’s best Flair and Mixology bartenders will be competing at the first regional event in this years Flair Bartending Championships to be held at HospitalityNZ at the ASB Showgrounds, Greenlane from August 23rd – 25th.
To register click here

Last years top three competitors along with some great new upcoming talent will be looking to take out first prize which will be a trip to compete in Las Vegas.
CONQUEST magazine & Flairblacks International sponsored last year’s winner Brad Gibson to compete at the famous Roadhouse World Flair Championships in London. His trip worth over $5,000 included airfares and accommodation at one of London’s top five star hotels.

2009 Sponsors:

Drambuie
De Kuyper
Grand Marnier
Amarula
Finest Call

2009 Event

This year’s event will have 5 main categories including:

1. Exhibition Flair:
Competitors have 7 minutes to perform a flair routine that incorporates both working and performance flair including a minimum of 2 minutes working flair where sponsors bottles must be at least 40% full. Only sponsor’s bottles can be used when doing working flair and a compulsory cocktail must be made. The remaining 5 minutes is for performance flair where competitors can use any bottles and must complete a shaken cocktail of their own choice. Bonus points will be awarded for using sponsor’s bottles in this part.

2. Speed Cocktail Making:
Competitors must make 4 different sponsored cocktails as quick as possible without flair. Each cocktail must be created using sponsors brands and will be timed to see who can complete all cocktails in the fastest time.

3. Spirit & Liqueur Speed Pour:
Competitors must free pour exact measures of spirits & liqueurs for each classic cocktail using sponsored brands. This will be timed and measured for points.

4. Seven Deadly Sins Mixology Competition:
Bartenders from all over the country will be invited to create a cocktail inspired by one of the 'Seven Deadly Sins' - Pride, Lust, Envy, Greed, Wrath, Gluttony and Sloth

5. Speed Beer Bottle Opening:
Six bottles of beer opened in the quickest time possible.

Side Bar

A true flair bartender must possess the following skills:

Create cocktails and other mixed beverages with confidence based on both taste and an understanding of the combinations of spirits, liqueurs and mixers
An appreciation of Classic Cocktails, as it’s the bartenders of the past that inspire us to be creative today
Pour spirits and liqueurs accurately with ‘free pour’ nip pourers, as you can’t flair effectively without these, plus free pour single and double shots without a jigger
Use both styles of flair bartending – Working Flair and Exhibition Flair. One can be used continuously for service, whilst the other is for performance only
The fine art of customer service which is confident but not arrogant, as well as the ability to educate customers and up sell
An all round knowledge of all things behind the bar

2008 Finalists:

National Finalists were: Brad Gibson qualifying in first place for the Grand Final, Duncan Crilley, Anthony ‘Tee’ Rima, Sean Murray, Dennis Gray and Ton Barbieri.

The 2008 New Zealand Flair Championship Grand Final:

The Grand Final features only the working flair, speed beer bottle opening and the performance flair. Highlights of the evening included:

Ton Barbieri had the entire crowd on its feet with near full bottles treated as if they were empty. He was on a mission to make his way back up to the top and that only further enhanced the spectacle we were treated to
Sean Murray created a new New Zealand record with six beer bottles opened in 2.2 seconds to take maximum bonus points on offer
Ton’s performance flair left everyone spellbound. His routine featured four bottles flying around in various patterns while preparing his cocktails with extreme confidence. The noise from the crowd was deafening and even the judges could not explain what they had just witnessed
Brad’s performance flair set the audience on fire from the beginning with multiple bottles and shakers landing exactly where he wanted them to. Bottles were ‘stalling’ on different body parts along with ‘taps’ that were sending the bottles one way and in a split back in the opposite direction

2008 Results:

Winner: Brad Gibson
Second: Ton Barbieri
Third: Anthony ‘Tee’ Rima
Brad represented New Zealand Flairblacks internationally at the famous Roadhouse World Flair Championships in London in June 2009

The Da Vinci Gourmet Trans Tasman Barista Championship

Round Two - Decision Time

The Da Vinci Gourmet Trans Tasman Barista Championship 5 of Australia's best baristas and 5 of New Zealand's best baristas battle it out to hold the title of The Da Vinci Trans Tasman Barista Champions. Round One was taken out by the Australians in Sydney in April. Now they meet again in Auckland for the deciding rounds. This challenge is designed to reproduce the pressure of what happens in great espresso bars around the world. Under time pressure, baristas must co-operate as a team. The three things that matter to espresso coffee customers around the world are:

Great Taste
Great Artistry
Great Speed

Schedule

Mon 24 Aug
10.30am – 11.30am        Practice Session
12.00pm                          Heat #1
2.30pm                            Heat #2

Tue 25 Aug
11.00am Grand Final

Meet the Teams - Kiwis

Chris White
Chris is the founder of the “Altura Coffee” company based on the North Shore in Auckland. Not only is Chris an experienced and talented Roaster and café owner, but he is also on the Judges Committee for the World Barista Championships. It is great to see competition judges putting themselves on the line!

Emma Markland-Webster
Nelson-based Emma works for Atomic Coffee Roasters. She holds the title of NZ’s highest ranked female barista, she represented NZ in the year 2002 with a WBC ranking of 5th and is also a World Barista Championship judge. Emma is one of the key organizers for the New Zealand Barista Championships and a stalwart of our industry.

Luciano Marcolino
Luciano is a two time New Zealand Barista Champion. Luciano has represented New Zealand twice at the WBC in Berne and in Copenhagen he finished an extremely credible 7th on both occasions. Luciano works in his own café aptly named “Luciano” in Christchurch.

Carl Sara
Carl is the current New Zealand Barista Champion and represented New Zealand at the World Barista Championships in Atlanta in April 2009. Carl also holds 3 previous WBC finals placings. He is the co-owner of 2 Muffin Break Cafes in Christchurch, New Zealand

Justin Metcalf
Justin Metcalf is one of Australia’s most recognised coffee identities. His passion has led to an active involvement in the speciality roasting industry, where he has established a reputation as a Master Roaster. Justin’s high profile throughout the coffee industry has recently led to the establishment of his own signature coffees distributed by Coles Supermarkets. Justin's goal is to empower aspiring barista's with a knowledge, skill and passion for espresso second to none.

Zoe Delany
With a smile that lights up the room, Zoe Delany has an enthusiasm towards her coffee that is too hard to ignore. She believes that coffee is a way of life: the social lubricant that has allowed her to meet so many people from around the world who share her passion. Placing second in the 2009 Australian Barista Championships Zoe has been a trainer for Michel’s Espresso and Sunbeam and now heads up the highly successful internet coffee business, Coffee Hit. Zoe joined the Da VinciTrans Tasman team in 2007.

David Makin
David is the five times, Victorian Barista of the Year, 2006 and 2008 Australian Barista of the Year and placed 2nd at the 2008 World Barista Championships in Copenhagen. David Makin has been a professional barista for 10 years. After owning and operating several cafes he continues to work within the coffee roasting industry and has opened his own barista studio aimed at training the very best baristas.

Anne Cooper
Anne has been in the coffee industry for 18 years and has had the opportunity to work at all levels within the industry - as barista, café owner, trainer with William Angliss Coffee Academy and National Barista Trainer for The Coffee Club Franchise. Anne has also been involved in the AASCA Barista competitions where she was the QLD Barista Champion, 2006-2008 and a judge at the 2009 State and National competitions. Annes' coffee adventures now find her on the manufacturing and purchasing side of the industry as Roasting Manager of Di Bella Coffee.

Habib Maarbani
Habib graduated with distinction from a Bachelor of Commerce in 2004, however working with people was and still is his preferred occupation. Currently a co-owner of Morgan’s Kitchen in Liverpool, Sydney he has been making coffee for 6 years enticing his customers with great coffee to create a feeling of community around his business. Habib loves the buzz of being behind the coffee machine and pumping out coffees to a whole load of regulars - like all his mates have come around for coffee.