NEWS

Coffee, creativity, community – highlights from the 2025 Caffè Vergnano Barista Championship

Following last year’s success, the Caffè Vergnano Barista Championship returned for the second time on 10 September, hosted this year at the Budapest Highland Golf Club. The event was led by Iván Gávris, Coffee Expert at Coca-Cola HBC Hungary, while master pastry chef Ádám Pataki, owner of Pataki Confectionery, welcomed and guided participants throughout the programme. The competition showcased the talent, creativity and professional skills of Hungary’s most promising baristas representing the Caffè Vergnano brand.

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The stakes were high: the winner earned the opportunity to represent Hungary at the Caffè Vergnano Barista World Championship, to be held on 17 October in Chieri, Italy.

The five finalists had prepared for six weeks to impress the professional jury with both classic coffee specialities and innovative coffee-based cocktails. The judges evaluated every detail – from technical machine handling to serving – while also paying close attention to the participants’ personal motivations. The jury was chaired by Anita Nagy-Bertók, Hungary’s highest-ranking certified coffee judge, and included the four professional coffee ambassadors of Coca-Cola HBC Hungary, who assessed the contestants based on international technical and sensory criteria.

In the end, Tekla Novák, barista of Rampart Gastronomy, claimed first place. She was followed by Dóra Csörgő of the Caffè Vergnano 1882 coffee chain in second, and Tamás Nyári from Tribe Budapest Airport Hotel in third place.

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It was truly inspiring to see the dedication and creativity that the baristas brought to the competition, and how they were able to showcase their skills live on stage.

Iván Gávris Coffee Expert at Coca-Cola HBC Hungary

Caffè Vergnano is one of the oldest names in Italian coffee culture and has been distributed in Hungary by Coca-Cola HBC since 2022. The brand’s mission is to make premium coffee experiences accessible to more consumers and hospitality partners, while also supporting the growth of the professional coffee community. The Barista Championship reflects this mission by providing both a professional challenge and a unique community experience for participants.

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