Bewley’s barista is one of world’s best

Barista and 2019 Irish Barista Champion, Wojciech Tysler, was last month recognised as the sixth best barista in the world at the World Barista Championships in Milan. The World Barista Championship is the pre-eminent international coffee competition.

Representing Ireland for the second time in the World Barista Championships, Wojciech competed against more than 50 country champions from all around the world to get to the finals in Milan. A panel of international judges evaluated each performance on the taste of the beverages served, cleanliness, creativity, technical skill, and overall presentation. The final event saw the top baristas from Colombia, Australia, Switzerland, the U.S., Kenya and Ireland compete in 15-minute sessions where they had to prepare four espressos, four milk drinks and four original signature drinks to exacting standards. The signature beverage allows the baristas to stretch their imagination and the judges’ palates to incorporate a wealth of coffee knowledge into an expression of their individual experiences. In this year’s final, Wojciech’s signature beverage was his innovative Fruity Coffee IPA, which melded the flavours of passion fruit, Galia melon, pink grapefruit and pink peppercorn flavours with six shots of espresso to create a truly unique coffee expression inspired by Wojciech’s favourite tropical IPA craft beer. Wojciech commented: “I’m really delighted to have gotten to the final six in the World Barista Championships. Obviously, it’s disappointing not to have come in first, but I feel like I’ve done myself and Bewley’s proud.”