Welcome to the 2009 New Zealand Coffee Awards. This is New Zealand's premier coffee event and showcases the best coffee our master roasters have to offer. You like imported coffee? Hmm, you better look elsewhere, this is about FRESH local coffee and the roasters who supply your cafe or supermarket with premium New Zealand beans.

The 2009 New Zealand Coffee Awards.

It's a Gold (for) Rush and Altura reach new heights!

Around 250 coffees from 63 New Zealand coffee roasters, two long days for 12 judges, and the winner of the Supreme Award in 2009 New Zealand Coffee Awards is Auckland roaster, Altura Coffee!

Altura’s Eclipse blend, which won Gold in the Flat White category, received the highest number of points of any coffee entered into the awards. Altura's name relates to height or altitude and they have certainly reached the peak of coffee perfection.

Head judge Instaurator (and that is his real name!) said New Zealand had one of the world’s best coffee cultures with the level of roasting here “outstanding”. The judging was conducted in the Barista School at the Manukau Institute of Technology, Otara, Auckland.

This year’s winners were a mix of tiny toasters such as Wellsford roasters Rush, with its Rush Espresso judged New Zealand’s best Roasted Espresso coffee, and the bigger roasters including Cerebos, Altura and Jungle. Cerebos, with its roasting team headed by Scott Pepler, won the biggest tally with 10 medals for brands including Robert Harris, barista@home, Orb and Bruno Rossi.

The Supreme Award is awarded to the coffee that receives the highest number of points over all eight coffee categories. Heading this year’s judging panel was Instaurator who is recognised as one of the world’s leading coffee experts. He was assisted by an expert team of mainly New Zealand roasters who tasted each cup 'blind'.

This year’s winners were:

Supreme Award – Altura Coffee (Auckland) Eclipse Flat White Blend
Café magazine Trophy - New Zealand Espresso – Gold: Rush (Wellsford).
Anchor Trophy - Traditional Flat White – Gold: Altura.
Detpak Trophy - Ethically Traded Coffee – Espresso – Gold: Switch (Chch).
Waiwera Mineral Water Trophy - Organic Coffee – Gold: Robert Harris.
Heritage Hotels - Supermarket Plunger Blend – Gold: Jungle (Ak).
MIT Trophy - Supermarket Filter Blend – Gold: Havoc (Wanganui), Robert Harris.
Foodservice Filter/Plunger - Gold: Wildcat (New Plymouth
Decaf Coffee – Gold: Volt (Ak).

A full list of winners can be found here.

For further details or high resolution photos contact Michael Guy at eatout@xtra.co.nz or call 09.424 5282 (dial 09 from Auckland), or 0274.958511

See more past results here. Hall of Fame

New Zealand Coffee Roasters database.

Go to our Roasters page to find your favourite roaster or search for local roasteries. Contact us to add your company to our list.

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