Coffee, Creativity, Community – Caffè Vergnano Barista Championship 2025

The competition brought together five top talents from the brand’s Hungarian baristas, who proved their skills and dedication. Over six weeks of intensive practice, they prepared under the mentorship of Iván Gávris, coffee expert at Coca-Cola HBC Hungary, to be ready for the national final. During the contest, both classic coffee specialties and exciting coffee-based cocktails were created, as participants had to showcase precision and creativity simultaneously.

Caffè Vergnano is a traditional Italian family business. Based in Santena, it is one of Italy’s oldest coffee roasters, with a history dating back to 1882. Its premium-quality product range of excellent coffees symbolizes Italian tradition and authenticity. In October 2021, Coca-Cola HBC Group acquired a 30% stake in the company, and by January 2022, Hungary was among the first markets to launch exclusive distribution of Caffè Vergnano premium Italian coffee products. Since then, the company has worked to introduce outstanding Italian espresso culture to Hungarian consumers and train its hospitality partners to prepare high-quality coffee beverages, ensuring that customers encounter only the best in cafés.

In this spirit, the Caffè Vergnano Barista Championship was held for the second time. After 10 minutes of preparation time, competitors had to prepare and serve their drinks using the same machine, the same coffee, and the same water. In the morning, they showcased their skills with espressos and milk-based drinks, followed by a blind test in the afternoon, where with their eyes covered, they had to identify the quality of the extracts – which was correct, which was under-extracted, and which was over-extracted or burnt coffee. The final challenge was to create original coffee-based alcoholic cocktails – an opportunity for participants to display creativity and individuality. As a result, the jury and even the audience could taste drinks like a rosemary coffee cocktail with apple whiskey, or a coffee specialty enhanced with wild raspberry and rose-flavored vodka along with lime juice.

Meanwhile, judges assessed every detail strictly – from machine handling to coffee quality to presentation – while also listening to how contestants explained their motivations for entering. The jury was chaired by Anita Nagy-Bertók, Hungary’s highest-ranked judge. The panel consisted of four professional coffee ambassadors from Coca-Cola HBC Hungary, who evaluated participants based on international technical and sensory criteria. The scoring competition was ultimately won by Tekla Novák, barista at Rampart, with Dóra Csörgő of Caffè Vergnano 1882 in second place and Tamás Nyári of Tribe Budapest Airport Hotel in third.

The scoring competition was ultimately won by Tekla Novák, barista at Rampart, with Dóra Csörgő of Caffè Vergnano 1882 in second place and Tamás Nyári of Tribe Ferihegy in third place.

“It was truly inspiring to see how passionately and creatively the baristas prepared for the competition, and how they managed to demonstrate it live on stage.”

– said Iván Gávris, coffee expert at Coca-Cola HBC Hungary.

“The quality of the coffee experience depends on many factors. This is why, according to the Caffè Vergnano philosophy, we have a dual mission in the Hungarian coffee market: on the one hand, to help consumers recognize and expect quality coffee, and on the other, to support the professional community in reaching ever higher standards to meet these expectations.”

“The preparation and the competition itself were incredibly exciting, and I experienced it as a great memory. I not only gained a lot of experience but also became part of a supportive, family-like community, which gave me tremendous strength. Now I look ahead: towards the World Championship in Italy, where I want to further refine my skills. I might even present a completely new coffee-based cocktail! I trust that I can bring out my very best in Chieri, as I have set a podium finish as my goal – that is what motivates me the most right now.”

– said Tekla Novák, the winner of the competition.