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Say hello to Veronika, Italy's National Barista Champion - Starbucks Stories EMEA

Starbucks Stories EMEA

Say hello to Veronika, Italy&#8217;s National Barista Champion

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Say hello to Veronika, Italy’s National Barista Champion

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Meet Fiona, representing the UAE - Starbucks Stories EMEA

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Meet Fiona, representing the UAE

Meet Alex, representing France and Luxembourg - Starbucks Stories EMEA

Meet Alex, representing France and Luxembourg

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“Pour your heart into everything you do and don’t be afraid”

This September, four of Starbucks most skilled baristas participated in an all-day competition at the <a href="https://stories.starbucks.com/emea/stories/2022/make-milan-your-next-stop-this-summer/">Reserve Roastery Milano</a> and showcased their impeccable coffee expertise.

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Due to their advanced barista experience, EMEA Roastery partners (employees) compete in their own separate Barista Championship.

During the competition Roastery partners have to tell captivating stories about coffee, demonstrate their precise brewing ability, present innovative signature beverages, and battle it out in a nail-biting latte art throwdown.

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This year, the Milan Roastery Barista Champion accolade goes to Federico – a four-year partner from Rome. We caught up with Federico to hear all about his 2022 experience and what it means to win the prestigious title.

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Federico’s love of coffee began at a young age.

“I fell in love with Starbucks at the age of 12, right after I had my first sip at a store in Barcelona (I still have the paper cup with the old logo at home!). From that moment, my love for the brand grew and I hoped that one day Starbucks would open a store in Italy.”

Years later, Federico’s dream became a reality when Starbucks entered the Italian market in 2018 with the Starbucks Reserve Roastery Milano.

“When I heard that a Roastery was going to open in Milan, I applied, went through the interview process, and I got hired. I packed my bags, said goodbye to my family and friends, and set off to fulfil my dream: to be a partner and to make a difference”.

With his curiosity and immense passion for coffee, Federico was encouraged by his managers and fellow partners to join this year’s Roastery competition. Throughout the competition, he explained that the biggest challenge was creating his signature beverage: Cherry Choco Latte.

As part of the competition, baristas choose their own signature latte art design – their own individual stamp to symbolise who made each cup of coffee. Showcasing his creativity and the botanical roots behind coffee, Federico’s signature Latte Art is a tulip, because it reminds him of a small arabica coffee tree.

"This is a once-in-a-lifetime moment for me, if I had to give one piece of advice to my fellow partners: Believe in yourself and be curious about everything because curiosity is what feeds the soul".

Federico De Palma crowned as Roastery Barista Champion 2022 - Starbucks Stories EMEA

Federico De Palma crowned as Roastery Barista Champion 2022

“Pour your heart into everything you do and don’t be afraid” This September, four of Starbucks most skilled baristas participated in an all-day competition at the Reserve Roastery Milano and showcased their impeccable coffee expertise. Due to their advanced barista experience, EMEA Roastery partners (employees) compete in their own separate Barista Championship. During the competition […]

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https://stories.starbucks.com/emea/stories/2022/roastery-barista-champion-2022/

Meet Victor from Spain - Starbucks Stories EMEA

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https://stories.starbucks.com/emea/stories/2022/meet-victor-from-spain/

Meet Victor from Spain

Meet Julius from Austria - Starbucks Stories EMEA

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Meet Julius from Austria

Meet Niko from Germany - Starbucks Stories EMEA

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Meet Niko from Germany

Meet Fraser from the UK - Starbucks Stories EMEA

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Meet Fraser from the UK

Meet Richard from Ireland - Starbucks Stories EMEA

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Meet Richard from Ireland

This year at Starbucks, 36 countries competed to be crowned the 2022 EMEA Barista Champion. After months of preparation, coffee tastings, sharing their personal storytelling, and latte art showdowns from our talented partners across Europe, Middle East and Africa…here is your final 10 for this year.

Get to know each of them as they head to Milan in the hope of being crowned our Starbucks EMEA Barista Champion 2022.

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From 36 to 10: Starbucks names its top baristas who are heading to Milan to compete for this year’s EMEA Barista Championship! - Starbucks Stories EMEA

From 36 to 10: Starbucks names its top baristas who are heading to Milan to compete for this year’s EMEA Barista Championship!

This year at Starbucks, 36 countries competed to be crowned the 2022 EMEA Barista Champion. After months of preparation, coffee tastings, sharing their personal storytelling, and latte art showdowns from our talented partners across Europe, Middle East and Africa…here is your final 10 for this year. Get to know each of them as they head […]

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https://stories.starbucks.com/emea/stories/2022/starbucks-names-its-top-baristas-who-are-heading-to-milan/

The Starbucks Barista Championship in EMEA is here and 2022&nbsp;is officially our largest one yet - seeing 36 countries competing for the top spot -&nbsp;the most countries&nbsp;we have ever seen compete! It is a record year for the most nationalities in one Starbucks Barista Championship – from Kazakhstan to Saudi Arabia, Switzerland and South Africa – these are just four out of the 36 nations competing.

Each barista is already a champion, having been crowned as the National Champion of their home country, but the next stage of the competition will see one finalist crowned the best Starbucks barista in EMEA. The search has taken nearly nine months and involved approximately 15,000 Starbucks baristas who entered this year’s competition.

This year’s competition will be hybrid after a virtual return in 2021 and we kicked off by celebrating all the National Champions! Watch the video below to meet them:

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EMEA Barista Championship is back! Bigger than ever, meet this year's 36 National Champions - Starbucks Stories EMEA

EMEA Barista Championship is back! Bigger than ever, meet this year&#8217;s 36 National Champions

The Starbucks Barista Championship in EMEA is here and 2022&nbsp;is officially our largest one yet &#8211; seeing 36 countries competing for the top spot &#8211;&nbsp;the most countries&nbsp;we have ever seen compete! It is a record year for the most nationalities in one Starbucks Barista Championship – from Kazakhstan to Saudi Arabia, Switzerland and South Africa […]

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https://stories.starbucks.com/emea/stories/2022/meet-the-36-national-champions/

EMEA Barista Championship is back! Bigger than ever, meet this year’s 36 National Champions

At Starbucks, we value and support the Pride community – customers, partners, and allies alike. No matter your identity, no matter your background, we are better together. This Pride Month, Dan Blaker, chair of the EMEA Pride Network, shares his Starbucks journey, what <a href="https://stories.starbucks.com/emea/stories/2022/celebrating-pride-heritage-month-in-emea/">Pride Heritage Month</a> means to him, and the role of Starbucks EMEA Pride Network.

Dan (he/him) joined Starbucks as a barista back in 2007 while studying at University in Bath. Fast forward 15 years, minus a six-month career break where he went travelling, Dan progressed from barista to district manager and is now a Starbucks UK business manager. Dan adds, “I am also privileged to be the chair of our Pride Network here in EMEA, I have been part of the network for 18 months, since we first formed, and have held the chair role for the past six months.”

“The Pride Network began in the US around three decades ago. We now have four Pride Networks across the globe, and it was a privilege being able to help establish, develop and grow the network here in EMEA.”

"It is important for all our partners (employees) to have a voice, a space where they can learn, connect, share and truly be themselves. We also need to advocate for partners, amplify voices within the business for underrepresented groups, and influence support, driving change.”

“Our mission is to empower, support and celebrate the Starbucks LGBTQ+ community. We aim to do that by proudly cultivating an equitable, inclusive, and dynamic environment for LGBTQ+ partners, allies, and customers.”

This year’s theme for Pride Heritage Month is allyship. Allyship is essential for creating a culture of inclusion and acceptance.

For Dan, “Pride Heritage Month is a chance to celebrate how far we have come as a community, share stories, educate ourselves and others, and continue to raise awareness. I feel privileged to work for a company where I can be myself and inspire others to do the same. At Starbucks we are guided by our Mission and Values, challenging the status quo and doing everything we can to create a sense of belonging where everybody is welcome.”

Despite making progress, Dan believes that we still have a long way to go – suggesting that there are many challenges that the LGBTQ+ community faces every single day:

“It is essential we demonstrate solidarity, come together and show support wherever we can to underrepresented groups for everyone to truly feel included.”

Celebrating Pride: Meet Dan Blaker, who shares the importance of celebrating Pride and how Starbucks can build an atmosphere of inclusion - Starbucks Stories EMEA

Celebrating Pride: Meet Dan Blaker, who shares the importance of celebrating Pride and how Starbucks can build an atmosphere of inclusion

At Starbucks, we value and support the Pride community – customers, partners, and allies alike. No matter your identity, no matter your background, we are better together. This Pride Month, Dan Blaker, chair of the EMEA Pride Network, shares his Starbucks journey, what Pride Heritage Month means to him, and the role of Starbucks EMEA […]

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https://stories.starbucks.com/emea/stories/2022/celebrating-pride-meet-dan-blaker/

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