After beating 15 other baristas from across England, Ireland, Scotland, Wales and Brussels in last week’s (22 November) semi-final, Naert secured her spot in the final, which took place on the same day, before going on to be crowned this year’s winner.
Showcasing her ‘creative flair and in-depth coffee knowledge,’ Naert’s summer-inspired signature drink was an infusion of strawberry coulis and mint with almond cream on top.
Scott Taylor, head of coffee at BaxterStorey, praised her ‘presentation’ and said the flavours in her ‘outstanding’ drink ‘really came together’.
Naert commented: “I’ve only been a barista for six months and the other competitors are amazing, I can’t believe I’ve won.
“My drink was inspired by my favourite summer flavours. It’s been such a life experience, I’d tell any barista to enter as it’s so worth it”.
As part of her prize, she will visit the Matthew Algie roastery (Glasgow) as well as the 2019 World of Coffee show in Berlin, and also be entered into the Speciality Coffee Association 2019 UK Barista Championship.
BaxterStorey Barista Academy manager and head trainer, Jana Slamova, said: “This year’s competitors pulled out all the stops, making the final decision as hard as possible for the judges.
“The competition offers an opportunity for our baristas to be recognised for their passion, and highlights the incredible talent within our business.
“We hope our training opportunities continue to inspire and arms (employees) with the skills and confidence needed to produce quality coffee for our clients across.”