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!

The Shingle Inn Barista of the Year Competition finals returned this year in a more intimate and supportive format, hosted at our Capalaba store. Surrounded by family, friends and peers, our finalists showcased their skills in a relaxed environment.

Signature Drinks

• Grace crafted The Dubai Iced Latte, a luxurious iced creation featuring pistachio spread, kataifi, and a pistachio-rimmed glass that was as beautiful as it was delicious.
• Francisco drew on his Latin heritage for ‘Comfortably Yumm’, a tiramisu-inspired latte made with mascarpone, cocoa and a ladyfinger on the side.
• Oksa impressed with his Creamy Mintley Bandreg, a unique blend of mint, orange zest and coconut milk that delivered fresh, bold flavours.
• Myla took inspiration from a Snickers bar for ‘Nicke’s Delight’, a frappe layered with chocolate, caramel, espresso and peanuts. Sophisticated yet fun, it helped to earn her the title of 2025 Barista Champion!

A Supportive, Relaxed Competition

• Unlike previous years, the finals were deliberately kept low-key. No big crowds, no grand stage… just baristas focusing on their craft. This approach allowed each finalist to showcase their creativity and passion in a calm and uplifting setting.

And the Winner is…

Congratulations to Myla from Grand Plaza! Our 2025 Barista of the Year! Her exceptional creativity, consistency and skill stood out, making ‘Nicke’s Delight’ a drink to remember.

Celebrating all our Finalists

• We couldn’t be prouder of Grace, Francisco, Oksa, and Myla. Each brought unique flavours, cultural inspiration and artistry to their drinks. Beyond the finals, BOTY has had a powerful impact across our network with 26 newly qualified baristas, helping to ensure every cup of coffee meets the highest standards of quality.

Cheers to our talented baristas for another inspiring year of creativity and coffee craftsmanship!

This year’s Barista of the Year (BOTY) Finals was a shining example of our Barista’s creativity and commitment to quality coffee, that impressed both the judges and attendees. Held at the beautiful Sirromet Winery’s Barrel Hall, the competition was a true celebration of coffee artistry.

Meet the finalists and their creations!

Each of our four finalists brought something special to the table. Let’s take a closer look at the standout drinks from this year’s competition:

• Rem created a delightful tribute to our Biscoff Cheesecake (available for a limited time only), blending cinnamon and caramel, with a sprinkle of chocolate flakes. This delicious combination left the judges craving more.
• Hannah brought the sunshine with her drink titled “This Moment.” A refreshing mix of homemade plum syrup and lemon iced tea, topped with a swirl of cream and bright lemon zest, it offered a sweet, tangy twist.
• Jess wowed everyone with her Pink Turkish Delight Latte, inspired by the classic Middle Eastern confection. With its vibrant pink colour and sweetness, this latte was both a visual and delicious – catching everyone’s attention.
• Kristy’s drink was a rich and indulgent Peanut Brittle Latte, topped with whipped cream and a crunchy sprinkle of peanuts. It was the perfect blend of sweet, salty, and nutty flavours. Her attention to detail and commitment to quality coffee made her drinks stand out and ultimately led to her well-deserved win!

 

 

 

 

 

 

And the winner is…

Kristy from North Lakes!! In addition to the well-earned title, Kristy received a Breville Coffee Machine valued at $849 and an exciting trip to Melbourne for a private roastery tour.

Cheers to Our Baristas!

We couldn’t be prouder of Rem, Jess, Hannah, and especially Kristy for their amazing achievements. This year’s BOTY Finals proved that with creativity and dedication, coffee can truly become an art form.

Stay tuned for more exciting updates, and make sure to congratulate our talented finalists next time you visit!

The BOTY competition is an exciting event where our skilled baristas from across the country come together to demonstrate their expertise and creativity in coffee making. This competition is more than just a contest; it’s a celebration of the dedication and passion our baristas pour into every cup. Through this event, our baristas refine their techniques, learn new trends, and share their love for coffee with the entire Shingle Inn family.

With state finals now wrapped up, our baristas are now ready to compete for a spot in the national finals!

 

 

 

Meet our Finalists

We’re excited to introduce our four exceptional finalists who will compete for the title of Shingle Inn’s Barista of the Year 2024. Each Barista has shown remarkable skill and dedication, earning their place in the national spotlight.

Jessica, North Lakes

• Meet Jess, a passionate barista at Shingle Inn for five years who surprisingly prefers English breakfast tea over coffee. But don’t let that fool you; Jess knows her coffee inside out and believes precision and consistency are key to a perfect cup. She loves interacting with customers, making them happy, and forming meaningful friendships with her team. Jess enjoys watching Instagram reels of daring coffee flavour experiments, loving the creativity even if the ideas are extreme. She is passionate about perfecting her latte art, delighting customers with hearts and swans in their cups. One of her highlights is seeing regular customers around the shopping centre, exchanging smiles and waves. Known for handling special requests and challenging orders with kindness and efficiency, Jess finds every day at work exciting and different, fuelling her love for her job.

Hannah, Knox

• Hannah is known for her stunning latte art and exceptional customer service at Knox. Her journey in coffee began with a fascination for the art and balance of flavours, and she has become well-known for her beautiful swan designs. Hannah’s warm smile and friendly demeanour set her apart, making every customer feel valued. Regulars love her kindness and the genuine connections she forms, turning a simple coffee run into a highlight of their day. For Hannah, the best part of her job is seeing the joy on her customers’ faces when they receive their drinks. Her dedication to both her craft and the community creates memorable experiences for everyone who visits Knox.

Kristy, North Lakes

• Kristy has transformed coffee-making into an art form over her decade at Shingle Inn. Her favourite indulgence, an Iced Long Black with white chocolate powder and oat milk, reflects her love for unique and delightful flavour profiles. Kristy’s passion shines through in her meticulous attention to every coffee shot and achieving creamy, silky milk textures. She thrives on perfecting each cup and making every interaction special, creating a warm, inviting space for customers. Her journey into coffee began with a love for working with people and mastering the intricate steps to make the perfect cup. Kristy finds true joy in seeing the smiles and receiving compliments from satisfied customers. Always striving to improve her skills, she welcomes feedback as an opportunity to refine her techniques. Kristy’s fascination with coffee trends, especially the visually intriguing cold drip method, sparks numerous conversations with her customers, showcasing her openness to innovation and experimentation.

Rem, Grand Plaza

• Rem, a dedicated barista at Shingle Inn for seven years, unexpectedly found his passion for coffee. His go-to order is a classic latte, reflecting his appreciation for the fundamentals of coffee craftsmanship. Rem believes the secret to a perfect cup lies in high-quality beans and precise extraction. He loves the continuous learning and skill development in his job, alongside the camaraderie of great colleagues. What Rem enjoys most is crafting diverse coffee beverages and receiving heartfelt compliments from customers. His journey from an unexpected start to becoming a finalist in the Barista of the Year competition highlights his dedication and passion. Intrigued by evolving coffee trends, Rem explores various milk alternatives and syrups to enhance the coffee-drinking experience. His commitment to quality and innovation makes every cup a delightful experience for his customers.

Celebrating our Baristas!

The national finals will take place on Monday 29^th July, where each contestant will showcase their coffee expertise and creativity in front of our judges. They will be competing for the title of Shingle Inn’s Barista of the Year 2024 and an amazing prize package, including an $849 Breville Coffee Machine and a trip to Melbourne for a Roastery Tour.

We invite all our customers to join us in celebrating the incredible talent and dedication of our baristas. Their passion for coffee is what makes every visit to Shingle Inn special!

Brisbane’s oldest and most loved café – the Shingle Inn – has put together its team of best baristas to battle for the title of Australia’s best coffee chain at the 2016 DaVinci Gourmet Coffee Chain Challenge on Thursday 24 November in Sydney.

The event will see 10 of the nation’s top coffee chains compete to see who will emerge as the 2016 DaVinci Gourmet Coffee Chain Champion.

Shingle Inn’s top baristas from all over Australia have been selected to compete:
· Nataliah Emmily Royan from Shingle Inn Bulimba, who recently won Shingle Inn’s Latte Art competition
· Amy Telfer, from Shingle Inn North Lakes, who was the runner up in Shingle Inn 2015 Barista of the Year
· Ellen Taylor, from Shingle Inn Belmont Forum, WA, who was awarded the 2016 “star to watch” – awarded by Grinders Coffee in Shingle Inn’s national Barista of the Year competition
· Tiffany Race, who is one of Shingle Inn’s Area Managers and is as passionate about coffee as her front-line team mates.
Fellow Brisbane barista Amy Telfer sums up the team’s passion for making coffee, explaining: “If you are passionate about every coffee you make, customers will know they’re getting your best every time.”

The 2016 DaVinci Gourmet Coffee Chain Challenge will take place on Thursday 24 November from 12pm-6pm at Stockland Wetherill Park in Sydney.

ABOUT SHINGLE INN:

Born in the Autumn of 1936, in the midst of the Great Depression, Shingle Inn is more than just a business; it is a fascinating part of Brisbane’s history with a unique story to share.

From the humble beginnings of one store that stood alone for 66 years has grown a franchise network of 53 cafes throughout Australia in Queensland, New South Wales, ACT, Victoria and WA.

The iconic Shingle Inn has a place in the heart of many people who grew up and live in Brisbane and many of the decadent, delicious products which have been devoured by so many over the decades – are still produced today, from scratch, by the Shingle Inn bakery located at Capalaba.

On 3 August 2002, the Bellchambers family were forced to close the doors on the beloved Shingle Inn on Edward St due to redevelopment. The city of Brisbane was devastated, so the decision was made to keep the iconic interior in storage until the beloved cafe could be reopened. In a painstaking effort, every detail of the cafe fit-out was catalogued and photographed so when the time came to put the pieces back together, it was possible.

On June 4 2010, a Memorandum of Understanding was signed, gifting the original store fit-out to the people of Brisbane, to be restored within another Brisbane icon, City Hall, allowing future generation to experience the history and grandeur of Shingle Inn.

Original components of the salvaged Shingle Inn featured at Brisbane City Hall include: booth tables and seating; timber veneer wall panelling; Shingle cladding and leadlight windows – where the Shingle Inn got its name from; the mock Tudor timberwork, including decorated timber ceiling beams and half timbering to walls; refurbished wall and ceiling mounted light fittings.

Two of Qld’s most loved authors – Rebecca Sparrow and Frances Whiting – will be the special guests at Brisbane’s most loved café when the Shingle Inn City Hall hosts the inaugural “Inn Book Lovers’ High Tea” on Sunday 23 October from 11.30am – 1pm.

Guests can discuss “what you are reading” and enjoy a decadent, fun High Tea full of the creation of wonderful memories for which Shingle Inn has been famous for over the last 80 years! Proceeds from the event will be donated to the The Pyjama Foundation to help their work in sending “reading angels” into the homes of foster kids.

DATE: Sunday 23 October 2016
TIME: 11.30am – 1pm
LOCATION: Shingle Inn City Hall
COST: $70 per person
TO BOOK: Call 3210 2904

Guests will enjoy a decadent High Tea served with a glass of Australian sparkling wine and a selection of the ribbon sandwiches – Tasmanian smoked salmon, rocket, fried caper; free range egg, mayonnaise, snow pea sprouts; leg ham with seeded mustard cucumber; cream cheese, dill & chive; chicken, walnut, apple, celery and tarragon mayonnaise; camembert, pistachio, fig & ginger confit along with a freshly baked traditional plain scone with clotted cream and preserve; selection of decadent petite cakes and sweets and a choice of the extensive range of international teas or your choice of coffee.