Baristas and coffee roasters from across Australia and New Zealand battled it out in Melbourne recently, with the hopes of taking home the title of MILKLAB champion.

Ryan Nguyen from the ACT took out the title of MILKLAB Barista Battle Champion of 2024, securing $5000 and the title of MILKLAB Master Barista. Shogo Shimoji from New Zealand came in second place while Thiam Seng Chew from the Northern Territory came in third.

First established in 2019, the popular Barista Battle competition continues to attract baristas from across Australia and NZ to share a video of their finest latte art pour.

The inaugural MILKLAB Roaster Royale competition also attracted entries from coffee roasters across the country. Their challenge was to develop a one-of-a-kind espresso roast that pairs best with MILKLAB Oat milk.

Roaster Liam Pratt from Extraction Coffee Roasters in Queensland took out first place in the finale on May 13, securing $10,000 in prize money, a trip to Papua New Guinea plus a 12-month MILKLAB Roaster partnership. DC Wen from Rush Roasting Co in NSW came in second, while Paul from Share House Coffee Roasters in VIC took third place.

MILKLAB marketing manager Natalie Latimore said the Barista Battle and Roaster Royale competitions highlight MILKLAB’s collaboration with Australia’s baristas and roasters.

“It’s competitions like the Barista Battle and now the Roaster Royale that help us connect with baristas and roasters to ensure the MILKLAB range continues to deliver the best coffee experience for consumers,” she said.

“Congratulations to Ryan Nguyen and Extraction Coffee Roasters. We look forward to working closely with them as MILKLAB partners to develop coffee culture in Australia and elevate coffee drinking experiences with MILKLAB’s range.”