Vaso Papastamatiou from Greece has been crowned this year’s Starbucks Europe, Middle East and Africa (EMEA) Barista Champion, beating tens of thousands of Starbucks baristas across the region in the largest competition to date.
As Starbucks celebrates its 25th year in the UK, the 10th annual Starbucks Barista Championships Final took place in Starbucks Support Centre in Chiswick, London, as the national champions from across the EMEA region battled it out to be crowned as the very best of the best.
Vaso, who joined the Rhodes store in 2019 while a student at university, took the coveted Purple Apron – the mark of a champion – beating 32 baristas from 42 countries, themselves the best barista in their respective regions.
To be crowned the winner, Vaso demonstrated her skill and knowledge of coffee through blind tastings and storytelling, latte art and even a round that demanded they create a totally original signature beverage – with Vaso’s Verona Strawberry Blast Smoothie impressing the judges. Despite the fierce competition Vaso held her nerve to take the title in front of a supportive crowd at Starbucks HQ.
Vaso said: “I was talking with my parents ten minutes before the announcement and I started crying, they told me no matter what, you have achieved something big, you are the Barista Champion of Greece. And now, I’m the EMEA Barista Champion of 2023.
“When they announced my name I couldn’t believe it, it’s like my heart cracked. It’s the first time in my life I’ve been so happy.
“I think my journey starts now. This was only the beginning.”
This wasn’t Vaso’s first taste at the competition, having come close to clinching the national title in 2021 and 2022, while studying for her masters in Environmental Education.
This year’s final was the culmination of nearly nine months of competition involving more than 15,000 Starbucks baristas vying to become part of a very exclusive club. Among them was this year’s UK entrant Andrew Keegan, who earlier this year was named UK champion.
The purple apron was presented to Vaso by Duncan Moir, president of Starbucks EMEA, who said: “For the past decade we have seen the leading barista talent come together each year and compete to be named the best barista in all of Europe, the Middle East and Africa.
“Our EMEA Barista Championships are about celebrating our partners and the craft and joy they bring to work every day. This year’s competitors embody those values absolutely, and they should all be proud of their accomplishments.
“Vaso’s talent is truly remarkable, and it was a privilege to witness her passion for coffee. She is a wonderful ambassador to wear the purple apron.”
Each year, Starbucks Barista Championships are held across all the markets in the region, so Starbucks partners can showcase their deep coffee passion, craft and expertise. Baristas from each market qualify through local heats, and then on to the regional final. After months of dedication and training, one receives the purple apron and is crowned the EMEA Barista Champion.
EMEA Champions have gone on to be advocates for coffee craft around the region, encouraging, guiding and certifying coffee masters, developing new training to upskill Green Apron partners and sharing their knowledge and passion for coffee across the business and with customers.
