Starbucks crowns 2024 Latin America and Caribbean barista champion

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A Puerto Rican barista has been crowned as the winner of the 2024 Starbucks Latin America and Caribbean (LAC) Barista Championship.

The championship, held on 14 November at Hacienda Alsacia, Costa Rica, spotlights Starbucks employees across 22 markets in the LAC region who “embody the artistry, dedication, and creativity behind every cup of coffee served”.

The event, in its ninth year, offered baristas a platform to showcase their expertise in coffee craft, including espresso preparation, milk frothing, and latte art.

Luis from Puerto Rico was crowned as the overall barista champion, with finalists also including Juls, from Mexico, and Claudio, from Peru.

Prior to the championship, the baristas competed from June to September 2024, advancing through local heats and national finals for the chance to represent their market at the regional stage at Hacienda Alsacia.

“Our partners’ passion for coffee is at the core of every Starbucks beverage served and embedded in each connection made in our stores,” says Ricardo Arias-Nath, Senior Vice President and President of Starbucks LAC.

Luis adds: “I am deeply grateful to Puerto Rico, to all the people who planted those little coffee seeds in my life, and to all of my fellow green apron partners, who have made it possible for these seeds to continue to germinate this week. I’m representing each one of you, your stories, and our shared passion for coffee.

“The experience of being at Hacienda Alsacia really opened my eyes to the opportunities we have at Starbucks to really be able to change the world from our stores”.

Hacienda Alsacia is said to be the first coffee farm and global Research and Development centre in Latin America, which Starbucks says offers its partners a unique opportunity to witness and appreciate how they are involved in producing the cups of coffee they serve to customers daily.

The 240-hectare coffee farm in Costa Rica is now part of an expanded coffee innovation network, including new farms in Guatemala and Costa Rica announced in October 2024, with a goal to find solutions to increase productivity, support increased profitability for farmers, and build climate resilience.

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