Mario Villamagna of the Gloria Jean’s Garden City store in Western Australia has taken out the 2013 Gloria Jean’s Coffees Australian Latte Art Championship.
Six of the coffee franchise’s best baristas descended on Darling Harbour to compete in the final, which was held on 2 November.
Each contestant was required to showcase their best latte art skills by creating create two macchiatos, two free pour lattes and two designer lattes within eight minutes.
Latte art is the process by which baristas pour milk foam over an espresso to create a unique or intricate design with the brown crema and white foam, which appears on the surface of the latte.
Overall the standard was particularly high, however it was Villamagna who took home the title, which he will hold for two years, along with a $2,000 cash prize.
Lee Hodgkins from the Emerald store in Queensland took out second place, meanwhile Kevin Park of Gloria Jean’s in both Newington and Strathfield, New South Wales was awarded third place.
The remaining finalists were:
- Frank Caburian – Campbelltown, New South Wales
- Mel Mejia – Melbourne Airport, Victoria
- Myles Evans – Braken Ridge, Queensland