A champ is brewing

Siphamandla Betana, a barista at Starbucks FX Stellenbosch, has been crowned the best of the best in the Starbucks’ Regional Barista Championship.

The championship, which took place earlier this month, is a celebration of coffee knowledge, creativity and passion, says Ishan Natalie, coffee excellence lead at Rand Capital Coffee, the license holder of Starbucks SA.

Training to become a Starbucks partner – as the company’s baristas are known – is no simple affair. The baristas spend months immersing themselves in coffee knowledge and lore, with a hands-on curriculum.

“We love recognising the hard work our partners invest in finetuning their craft,” says Natalie. “That’s why the Regional Barista Championships are always such an exciting event.”

Betana, a store manager at Starbucks FX Stellenbosch, was one of five partners, selected from the district championships, who could show off their prowess at the regional championships. He was inspired to enter the championships after viewing the success of fellow partner Phuti Mmotla, who was named Starbucks Barista EMEA Champion in 2022.

“My journey began out of curiosity, but quickly grew into a deep passion for coffee, people and storytelling. I have seen how a single cup can shift someone’s day, how a partner’s passion can light up a store and how coffee connects beyond the surface. Competing was my way of honouring that connection, representing the partners I have grown with and challenging myself to rise beyond my known limitations.”

The competition was introduced by Starbucks with the store championships, with winners from this leg advancing to the district championships, which were held in March.

The recent regional championships saw partners from the KwaZulu-Natal, Western Cape and Central regions battling it out for a chance to participate in the National Barista Championships in June.

The winner of this coveted title competes in the Starbucks EMEA Championships in London, where other national champions will showcase their skills.

“Winning is an honour, but more than that, I hope this journey encourages others to pursue excellence, take bold steps and realise that greatness starts with one cup and one moment of courage,” Betana says.