Croydon barista Polina Shcherbakova finished a well-placed runner-up at Costa Coffee’s Barista of the Year competition staged in Liverpool this week.
Coffee star: Croydon barista Polina Shcherbakova
Television presenter Joel Dommett hosted the event, which was being staged for a 17th year. The competition is open to all Costa Coffee baristas, providing them with an opportunity to showcase their technical skills, knowledge and passion for all things coffee.
Shcherbakova, 20, has worked at Costa Coffee at 129-131 North End for almost two years, and reached the final after overcoming competition from hundreds of baristas from across the country.
The final 12 baristas took part in a variety of challenges which put their expertise to the test. They were tasked with crafting four high-quality core coffee drinks, including incorporating a plant-based milk, as well as creating two identical flat whites or cortados.
And finalists were tasked with making their own speciality iced drink, using their coffee knowledge and skills to create and deliver an innovative beverage. Shcherbakova’s speciality drink, a Tiramisu Frappe, featured a customised tiramisu-flavoured whipped cream.
“What a fantastic journey the past few months have been!” Shcherbakova said.
“I’ve loved every moment of being involved in the Barista of the Year Competition and will take home so many memories, skills and friends away from this incredible opportunity.”
The competition’s winner was Joanne Osborne, from Evesham in Worcestershire. Shcherbakova will be back serving frothy coffees on North End next week.
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