Merito Said:

Huhtamaki NZ Barista Champs

March 25, 2012, 6:08 pm

After a weekend of spectacular coffee experiences comes the final episode of this years barista championship. A change in structure brought a whole lot of like-minded people into one area at one time and it has been great to share this weekend with passionate people.

The championships are always a good time to reflect and grow as the environment gives way to new ideas and perspectives within our changing coffee scene. There have been some amazing coffees from Ethiopia and El Salvador right through to Australia presented this weekend, and each one has a magnificent story to tell.

AND CONGRATULATIONS TO:

1st place — Aymon McQuade from Bell Tea & Coffee in Wellington,

2nd place – Chloe Zhou in Crafted Coffee Company in Christchurch,

3rd place – Nick Clarke from Flight Coffee in Wellington,

New Zealand Barista Championships 2012

March 14, 2012, 1:53 pm

Each year the coffee industry holds an event unmatched by any other. It is a time to grow the baristas and cafe owners of New Zealand, to share knowledge and experience first-hand the development of our coffee culture. As a result, the talent of baristas throughout the country increases and  each of us enjoys our chosen brew that little bit more. Welcome, THE HUHTAMAKI NZ BARISTA CHAMPS.

This year will mark a change for the events, they will all be held over one weekend in Wellington. Beginning on Friday 23rd March with the Finals on Sunday. Should be a blast. For more information check out http://www.nzcra.org.nz/category/events/.

Coffee of 2012

January 4, 2012, 8:42 am

Some of my summer reading has included James Hoffman’s blog, JIMSEVEN. James is a World Barista Champion, coffee roaster and coffee intellect (amongst other things).

Have a read through yourself, what I found interesting is the results of his 2011 predictions being fairly accurate especially in the rise of filter brewed coffees and the increase in coffee prices, both of which he predicts are to rise again in 2012.

The notion that filter coffee surpasses espresso may sound far-fetched, and I do think we are a wee way off that. However, the increase in filter coffee purchases makes me quite happy. In the store we present filter coffee as alternative beverage, it does take a bit longer and hence it often isn’t chosen. The beauty of filter coffee is that the subtle flavours of the coffees are preserved, and with higher quality coffee coming in all the time it does seem a waste of sorts to shoot this straight into espresso. Don’t get me wrong, espresso has it’s place, and I love it, but if I go to a restaurant and always order my steak medium rare, what am I missing out on? Steak Tartare perhaps…?

The goal for us at Merito this year is to buy, and present, an elegant range of coffee that can be enjoyed through filters as well as espresso. I hope to see an increased interest in the finer, speciality coffees.

Brewing Merito

October 19, 2011, 11:57 am

For those in the Auckland CBD check out ME Coffee for a great Merito brew, delivering consistently good espresso from 6:30am and firing up the syphon and V60 filters from 12pm daily.