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Category: Food and Beverage / Food and Cooking / Industry

Coffee crazy Canberra picks up second Australian barista gong

Sunday, 27 Mar 2016 08:02:05 | Adrienne Francis

ONA founder Sasa Sestic, and employee Hugh Kelly are both champion baristas. (ABC News: Greg Nelson)

Commerce graduate Hugh Kelly has always been highly competitive.

"When I like something I really want to know what I can about it," Mr Kelly said.

Canberra is an incredibly dynamic market for all food and wine products including coffee ... For that reason I think it is not surprising that Canberra baristas are attracting these titles.

John Hart, Restaurant and Catering Industry Association

The 25-year-old originally imagined a career as a fireman or accountant but became obsessed with his part-time job of making coffee, while studying at ANU.

"All I wanted to do was pour pretty pictures and I think that is where it starts for a lot of people," he said.

After eight years on the job, Mr Kelly was named Australia's Best Barista at the 2016 ASCA Australian Barista Championship.

He was among a team of six ONA Coffee staff competing at the Melbourne International Coffee Expo last weekend.

"Your heart is beating out of your chest," Mr Kelly recalled.

Since the championship he has hardly slept a wink, fielding calls from media outlets across the country and overseas.

The pair smile while Sasa Sestic pours coffee. Photo: ONA founder Sasa Sestic, and employee Hugh Kelly are both champion baristas. (ABC News: Greg Nelson)

Preparation for the competition started about six months before the event.

About one month before the competition Mr Kelly was training for up to 6 hours per day.

What's so exciting about coffee is that we are sort of where wine was in the eighties ... There is so much more that we can learn.

Hugh Kelly, Australian barista champion

"I have never seen him more focussed in his life ever," his mentor, and fellow champion, Sasa Sestic said.

"Having Kelly and I winning, this amazing story just continues and it gets better and better!

"We have two Australian Barista Champions from Canberra and I think it is a dream come true!"

Mr Sestic was named the best barista in the world at the international championships in Seattle last year.

He said since winning the world title, his business has grown by about 30 per cent.

He currently employs up to 75 people across the ACT, and in the second half of 2016 his company expects to expand into Sydney.

Canberra food and beverage market 'dynamic'

The peak industry body said thirsty and discerning public servants and visitors to Canberra are driving growing demand for the capital's bespoke caffeinated beverages.

"Canberra has expenditure that is nearly double the national average per head on food and beverage product," said John Hart of the Restaurant & Catering Industry Association.

"Canberra is an incredibly dynamic market for all food and wine products including coffee.

"For that reason I think it is not surprising that Canberra baristas are attracting these titles."

Mr Kelly said he has now set his sights on a long career in the coffee industry.

"What's so exciting about coffee is that we are sort of where wine was in the eighties," he said.

"So there is so much more that we can learn."

But for now it is back to the coffee grinder for Mr Kelly as he forensically prepares for the 2016 World Barista Championship in Dublin in June where he is hopeful of delivering another Australian win.

AustraliaPlus


 

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