Gateshead locals may find their next Starbucks order being prepared by the UK’s top Starbucks barista, as Dee Bespalova, based at the Metrocentre store, has been crowned this year’s Starbucks UK National Barista Champion.
The annual competition is Starbucks biggest in the UK, open to more than 16,000 baristas across the country who are tested on their coffee craft, knowledge and expertise in the pursuit of one goal: to be crowned the very best Starbucks barista in the UK.
Regional contests whittled the hopefuls down and this year, for the first time in the competition’s history, it was an all-female final ten who travelled to the Starbucks HQ in London to battle it out for the title.
To be crowned UK winner, Dee first had to prove her expertise by tasting and identifying different Starbucks coffee blends, before demonstrating her technical ability by pouring the perfect steamed milk to create a latte, flat white and macchiato.
The penultimate challenge was to impress the judges with a drink of her very own creation. Inspired by the quintessentially British dessert, Dee served up an Apple Crumble Oat Shaken Espresso, which featured her homemade apple cinnamon syrup. The recipe was weeks in the making and Dee recruited willing visitors to the Metrocentre as critics to ensure the drink captured the true taste of the comforting crumble.
After a day of fierce competition, the final three were asked to present to the judges to demonstrate their passion for coffee and how they would want to use the platform of UK Barista Champion to inspire others in the industry.
Diana said:
“Participating in the Starbucks UK Barista Championships was an exhilarating journey. Prepping for it was a rollercoaster, but the unwavering support from my parents and fellow baristas gave me the confidence boost I needed to succeed.
“It’s not just about the competition, but about embracing the art of coffee making and challenging yourself to create something extraordinary.”
Originally from Latvia, Dee relocated to Newcastle at the age of 3. She joined Starbucks while studying pharmacology at the University of Newcastle in August 2021, taking on additional training to become a Coffee Master and earn a black apron by August 2022.
Dee will now spend the next couple of months preparing to compete against Starbucks baristas from 42 markets across Europe, the Middle East and Africa (EMEA), in the hope of being crowned the best in region, the 2024 EMEA Barista Champion.
Alex Rayner, General Manager at Starbucks UK, said:
“Witnessing our partners excel in the UK National Barista Championships is always inspiring and reminds me of the fantastic talent we are lucky to have in our stores across the UK. Their dedication to coffee craft and passion for excellence shine through in every beverage they prepare.
“As Diana and the other national barista champions prepare for the EMEA final, we want to wish them the best of luck in celebrating not just craft, but also the joy of coffee making.”
The EMEA Barista Championship will take place from the 23rd to the 27th of September, starting with a visit to Starbucks Amestardam Roasting Plant and culminating with the final competition in Starbucks London HQ.
