The best NZ barista two times over
Good coffee is all about happiness for Dove Chen.
If that’s the case then Chen must be the happiest barista in the country.
The co-owner of Grey Street Kitchen in Hamilton East is still on a high after creaming the New Zealand Barista Championship in Upper Hutt this month.
He took out the top prize against 22 other competitors. It is the second time Chen has won the championship – he took it out in 2017, too.
In April, he will compete at the Barista World Championships in Boston – what he describes as the ‘‘olympics’’ of coffee making.
During the competition, Chen was required to serve 12 coffees in 15 minutes. He was judged on three categories: espresso, milk and a signature drink he designed.
Chen said the championship was ‘‘good fun but stressful’’, taking months of preparation and training with the help of three coaches.
‘‘I’ve been very lucky to have a good team behind me.’’
Along with hard work, Chen believes there are three other key ingredients to becoming a skilled barista.
‘‘In my opinion, number one is passion, second is knowledge, third is love of coffee.’’
Chen said customers are themselves becoming more interested in the process behind a great cup.
‘‘So much work goes on behind the scenes in making coffee. From the farm level, to the roasting, to the brewing.
‘‘Now, the younger generation are interested in discovering the different origins of beans.’’
At Grey Street Kitchen, the cafe stocks Coffee Supreme beans which come in a variety of blends from different countries around the world. Each blend has its own characteristics, Chen said.
As well as winning the top prize, Chen also won the Outstanding Milk Award at the championship.
For Chen, a milky coffee must have the correct balance of flavours and elements. He is careful to heat the milk to 55 degrees only – in an attempt to extract the most sweetness and creaminess from it.
Technicalities aside, Chen said his love of coffee boils down to something quite simple.
‘‘It’s about happiness, delivering a happy coffee to a happy customer.’’