Natalia Taraskiewicz named CH&Co Barista of the Year 2022
Natalia Taraskiewicz has been named Barista of the Year 2022 by CH&Co.
Taraskiewicz, part of the Gather & Gather team at Sky Osterley, showcased her technical skills, knowledge, creativity and latte art at a final in London.
She beat 12 other finalists to the title of CH&Co's ultimate barista champion having impressed expert judges from the business and its coffee suppliers.
Running alongside the main recognition was a Brilliant Basics award, devised to celebrate emerging barista talent, and which was won by Raffaella Grillo, part of the Sky Ocean Rescue Team at Sky Osterley.
Matt Symonds, managing director for Gather & Gather, part of CH&Co, said: "What an amazing Barista of the Year final. The barista talent and coffee knowledge we have across CH&Co is superb and it's great to have the opportunity to showcase and celebrate it in this way. All the finalists brought their ‘A game' and I was blown away by their pure talent and flair."
The judging panel included Francesca Coombe, account manager, Redemption Roasters; Vincenzo Barlie, head of coffee at Sky for Gather & Gather; Chris Hall, general manager, Gather & Gather; Aidan Lonergan, head of coffee development, Gather & Gather Ireland; Johnny England, director of coffee, Lofbergs, and Ashley Dawes, key account manager, Union Hand Roasted Coffee.
