Cebu City — Baristas’ Quest concluded its Cebu leg with its first female Barista emerging as winner in the brewing competition.
Kara Louise Evangelista, emerged as the overall winner after a rousing and well-articulated presentation that topped 4 other finalists in a pool of 16 participants in the hotly-contested but jovial affair showcasing Barista brotherhood and camaradarie.
Kara, the first female champion of Baristas’ Quest, is also the 2019 Starbucks Philippines Barista Champion/Coffee Ambassador.
Coffee enthusiasts across Visayas were in for a thrill as the competition conquered the Queen City of the South in the third leg of Baristas’ Quest spearheaded by coffee innovation leader Henry & Sons.
Participants from Cebu City and neighboring towns, including a lone representative from Davao City, joined in the brewing competition at the Tightrope Coffee located at Pres. Quezon Street, Cebu City.
“I’m happy. I don’t believe that there are lesser chances of winning because we are girls. and I’d like to prove them wrong,” said Evangelista. “Girl baristas have command behind the bar and female baristas have what it takes to win competitions.”
“When you’re trying to share what you know about coffee you kind of pile up everything you’ve learned and you’d like to share it with others. In a way that builds a connection and makes coffee even better,” added.
Michael Harris Conlin, President and CEO of Henry & Sons Trading and Manufacturing Company, Inc., who is also the 2019 Philippine National Barista Champion and the 2019 World Barista Championship Semi-Finalist, leads the Baristas’ Quest campaign.
“Baristas are true ambassadors of coffee. Thats why we have come up with barsitas quest, to lift the filipino baristas. Baristas are the true ambassadors of the coffee industry,” said Conlin during the event attended by members of the local and national media.
Baristas’ Quest is a month-long campaign of competitions created to empower and promote camaraderie amongst Filipino baristas and coffee enthusiasts, and to showcase their skills in making coffee. Succeeding legs of the competition took place in Davao and Baguio City.
John Rey Plaza of 4th Street Café emerged as champion in the Quest Coffee Triangulation Competition in Davao City while Leandro Lamis of Figaro Baguio won in the Coffee + Art: Latte Art Throwdown in Baguio City.
The champions of these competitions will get the chance to represent his or her region by getting a competitor sponsorship package for the National Coffee Championships, a travel allowance and accommodation to the Philippine National Barista Assembly happening on September 20 at the SMX Convention Center Aura, and a Comandante Grinder! These events are co-sponsored by the venue partners.