THE ART OF a good cup
It might be something of an understatement to call Ayla Larsen competitive. The manager of Wild Bean Cafe Palmerston North and awardwinning barista doesn’t like to do things by halves, whether that’s on the sport eld, or behind the coffee machine! If something’s worth doing, it’s worth doing right, Ayla reckons – which might explain how she became the rst ever overall champion award at Wild Bean Cafe’s barista competition in 2016. “Taking out that award was great,” the mum-of-two and dedicated netballer tells, adding she’s currently preparing for this year’s competition which is happening this month. “I have won the regional comps for the past 3 years and I want to keep that title!” Her drive and dedication to crafting a perfect brew started ve years ago, when a former manager spotted natural talent and encouraged Ayla to enter into the competition as a rookie. “She reckoned, ‘this girl’s got it!” Ayla says. “So I entered, and I didn’t win. But, I learnt so much, and I knew I wanted to come back and take it out next year – and I did!”
FALLING IN LOVE
Ayla laughs as she thinks about her coffee journey – when she rst started, she didn’t even like the stuff! “I’d only have the hot chocolates, but then I thought, ‘what’s the buzz with everyone and coffee?’ So I gave it a try – well, I was drinking mochas – and now I love it, and I have a real passion for both drinking it and making it.” A mum to Terina (10) and nine-year-old James, Ayla still gets her biggest thrill when she’s behind the coffee machine. “I love being a barista,” she nods. “For me, it’s amazing to see where I’ve come from to where I am now – the personal growth has been huge. And, I like the customers and chatting to them about their lives, and I love making sure people have a good cup of coffee to start their day. I have a few regulars who’ve followed me to all the different BP’s I’ve been to in the last few years!”
RISE AND GRIND
A store manager since June, Ayla travels 40 minutes from her home each day to Palmerston North for work, though she plans to move to Palmy with her kids next year. “It’s a busy life”, Ayla says, but she wouldn’t have it any other way. “I’m de nitely a morning person though – after about 2pm I’m a bit useless!” she laughs. “I work a lot, but I love it.” So, what’s the secret to being a great barista? Ayla reckons it all comes down to two things – passion and con dence. “You have to love it, both the people and the art that is making a good coffee, because it is an art! For me, coffee is life – and I’ve made it my life, too.”