The Shingle Inn Barista of the Year Finals returned for another exciting competition, celebrating the skill, creativity and passion of our talented baristas from across the country.
This year’s finalists each brought something truly special to the competition, showcasing not only their technical coffee skills, but also their personality, creativity and pride in their craft. From rich, dessert-inspired drinks to refreshing iced creations, every finalist delivered a signature beverage that reflected their individual style.
Congratulations to Amber from North Lakes, Taylah from Joondalup, Hailey from Fountain Gate and Manmeet from Strathpine!
And the Winner is…
Congratulations to Hailey from Fountain Gate, our 2026 Shingle Inn Barista of the Year!
Hailey impressed the judges with her incredible attention to detail, winning everybody over with her signature bear latte art before presenting a drink that felt personal to her and her interests. Inspired by her love of baking, her white chocolate, brown butter and macadamia frappe brought together her creativity, skill and personality in a way that felt truly special.
As our 2026 winner, Hailey took home a Breville Barista Touch™ Impress, valued at $1,999.
We were also proud to award the Rising Star Award to Taylah from Joondalup, who impressed with her creativity, confidence and beautifully executed Campfire Mocha.
Celebrating Our Finalists
We are incredibly proud of Amber, Taylah, Hailey and Manmeet for the creativity, confidence and skill they brought to this year’s finals. Each finalist showed a genuine love of coffee, a willingness to try something new and the ability to beautiful drinks and memorable experiences.
The Barista of the Year competition continues to be a wonderful opportunity to celebrate the people behind the coffee.
Congratulations to all of our 2026 finalists. Your passion, creativity and dedication were truly inspiring, and we are so proud to celebrate you!