Coffee in Italian – Caffè Vergnano Barista Championship 2026

Three of the premium coffee brand’s Hungarian baristas will make it to the finals The enthusiastic starters proved their expertise and dedication in the professional competition. They prepared for several weeks with a lot of practice under the mentorship of Iván Gávris, Coca-Cola HBC Hungary’s coffee expert, to stand out in the domestic final.  

In the thirdCaffè Vergnano Barista Championshipprogram, the baristas demonstrated their skills by making classic espresso and milk-based drinks, and then competed with their own developed coffee-based alcoholic cocktails – this gave them the opportunity to show their creativity. Thus, the jury was presented with an espresso made crazy with the help of cane sugar, coconut flavor, lime and whiskey, as well as a coffee cocktail with a tropical, spicy flavor, enriched with Caribbean rum. This was followed by a blind test, where they had to identify the quality of the extracts (this is the process of extracting the substance from the coffee beans) while blindfolded: which ones were correctly extracted, which ones were under-extracted, and which ones were over-extracted, i.e. already roasted coffee.  

The judges tasted, scored, and paid attention to every single detail – from machine operation to serving – while also curious about the passion with which the contestants talked about their motivation for the profession. The jury members were: Anita Nagy-Bertók (the highest rated judge in Hungary), Ádám Pataki (owner of Pataki Confectionery), and Gábor Kiss (marketing manager of M. Petrol). The jury was assisted on site by two coffee ambassadors of Coca-Cola HBC Hungary, Bence Benkő and Patrik Murányi, as technical judges.  

In the end, the competition was won by Enikő Kovács, a barista at TRIBE Budapest Airport. Flóra Németh, a barista from La Cabra Tapas Bar in Kecskemét, came in second place, and Vivien Mátyus, a barista from Krúdy Restaurant in Debrecen, came in third place. 

“A good barista doesn’t just make coffee, but shapes the guest experience with a series of conscious decisions. The championship is important professional feedback for the participants, and it is clear that the preparedness and creativity in the field are increasing year by year”

– said Iván Gávris, coffee expert at Coca-Cola HBC Hungary. “A competition like this shows how the profession can both preserve traditions and remain open to new approaches.” 

Caffè Vergnano is a traditional family business, the Santena-based company is one of the oldest coffee roasters in Italy, with a history dating back to 1882. Its product range of premium quality, excellent coffees is the perfect symbol of Italian tradition and authenticity. The Coca-Cola HBC Group purchased a 30% stake in the company in October 2021 and was among the first to start the exclusive distribution of Caffè Vergnano coffee products in Hungary in January 2022. Since then, the company has worked to introduce the excellent Italian espresso coffee culture to the Hungarian public. 

The heritage of more than 140 years still defines the operation of Caffè Vergnano: The essence of its philosophy of Make Time Count is that quality takes time – this is reflected in the slow roasting process, during which the carefully controlled process helps the coffee beans to fully develop their aroma. 

The brand’s domestic portfolio has recently been expanded with a new specialty: theCaffè Vergnano Colombia Single Origin blend, which further strengthens the premium offering. The 100% Arabica coffee comes from the Huila region of Colombia and, with its clearly identifiable local character, responds to the increasingly open consumer demand for the origin and traceability of coffee. Its taste is lively and fruity: notes of dark berries meet the pleasant sweetness of milk chocolate. The fresh, lively acidity is balanced by a silky body, and vanilla and almonds appear subtly on the finish, giving an elegant, long-lasting experience. 

The winning recipe 

“This competition was a very special experience for me. I talk to guests a lot in my daily work, but presenting a drink in front of the jury and the general public was a completely different challenge – but at the same time it gave me a huge boost of self-confidence. given. I have been working seriously with coffee as a barista for two years, and I am also a bartender – this background has given me a lot of inspiration for creating my alcoholic coffee cocktail. Now I am focusing on the following goal: I want to arrive at the World Cup in Italy as well prepared as possible and get the most out of myself there”

– saidEnikő Kovács, the winner of the competition. 

“Anoki”

Props:

4cl Bombay Sapphire Sunset Gin

2 cl rose syrup

10cl Kinley Pink Aromatic Berry

espresso

rose flower  

Preparation:  

Fill the glass with the gin and rose syrup, top with the mixed berry-flavored tonic, then finally add the espresso, and top with 1-2 rose petals as a decoration. A refreshing, floral coffee cocktail that is the perfect drink for summer!