There’s more to coffee than just coffee

ROB POOLEY

Art has many forms and the variety of artists and artisans in our area is varied, interesting and talented, but few more so than Benji Taiaroa. Benji is the son of Riki Taiaroa and Nina Quan of Feoh Espresso, Waipu.

With an intense interest in all facets of the coffee world, Benji entered the industry upon leaving school and has quickly become head barista for the high-profile brand Altura coffee.

Not only is he a stickler for delivering the exact taste and flavour the customer orders but the presentation is also of immense importance. Those swans and oak leaves etched into your coffee foam are artistry in themselves. Benji has sought to perfect this art to the extent he competed last weekend in the New Zealand Latte Art competition. Latte art is definitely a ‘thing’ with a world championship event being held annually since 2005.

Supported by his family and well-wishers Benji was one of 16 entrants in the competition with the top six going into the final. The NZ Meadow Fresh Latte Art Championship 2020 highlights artistic expression in a competition platform that challenges the barista in an on-demand performance closely scrutinised by a body of judges and cameras and is ‘performed’ on stage.

In the preliminary round pourers are allowed eight minutes to produce two identical free-pour lattes and two identical designer lattes. This is a study in concentration and control with the top six going on to the final. On this occasion Benji missed out on a final spot being placed just two points below the sixth spot. One point was a spot of fluff in the jug, the other was a coffee grain on the cloth, such was the intensity of judging.

The 2020 prize pack will include flights and accommodation to the World Latte Art Championship in Poland later in the year.

Benji Taiaroa is a study of concentration during the competition.