Western Australian Barista Academy, Western Australia

New WABA site launched

Crammed with new content and freshly launched, we’re pleased to announce that the WA Barista Academy’s (WABA) website is here for your browsing pleasure.

NEWS FLASH: Head Trainer wins 2008 WA Barista Championships

Jennifer Murray, manager of the Western Australian Barista Academy, has taken out the 2008 Western Australian Barista Championship!

Now boarding

Wow, that came quickly, I’m about to hop on a plane to Melbourne tomorrow to compete in the National Barista Competition this weekend. It’s really exciting to represent WA and it seems like only a short time ago I was in Adelaide competing in the 2007 open heats.

Cawfee talk with Jen

After winning the 2008 Western Australian Barista Competition Jen began the hours of preparation for the national final. During this time she jotted down some thoughts of her coffee journey for Five Senses who put together a story on their site.

Australian Barista Competition 2008

I’m back, I’m inspired and I’m completely stoked to have taken out third place in the 2008 National Barista Competition.

Montréal, Québec ... Barista at Large

I’ve finally made it … apologies for the late post, however, to say that this is the first chance I’ve had in between all the wild welcoming parties, is only a minor understatement.

Café Santé Veritas - Synesso in Montreal

In a city saturated with stale drip coffee and many mediocre attempts at espresso, I’m very grateful to have come across Sam (owner/operator/barista) of Café Veritas in the Old Port. 

Monkey Coffee

Yay, Sam from Cafe Veritas sent me an email asking if I wanted to come and taste some coffee eaten, digested and pooped out of some Indian monkeys!! Heck yeah I did …

Café Myriad Montreal - Coming Soon

Anthony Benda and Scott Rao are opening what without a doubt will become a go to coffee destination in the heart of Montreal.

Manic Espresso - Ethiopian Yergacheffe Beloya Estate

It’s not every day I get served a cup of coffee that is so incredibly delicious, I can’t help but involuntarily announce it’s greatness between each sip. T’was yet again another clover coffee that tweaked my senses, an Ethiopian Yergacheffe microlot to be exact, sourced and roasted by 49th parrallel. It promised so much on that little white board, and amazingly delivered it with a clarity I’ve come to expect from a well made clover.

Seattle Coffee Fest 2008

When I realised that I would be in the right hemisphere during this years Seattle Coffee Fest, I made an extra effort to make sure I could get there. All up, I got to spend a week in what felt like coffee Hollywood … happily stumbling across one famous café / roaster after another.

NEWS FLASH: Head Trainer wins WA Barista Championships ... again!

Mark Chandler, manager of the Western Australian Barista Academy, today took out the 2009 Western Australian Barista Championships held at the Mount Hawthorn Community Hall.

It is the second year in a row a WABA trainer has won the event with Jennifer Murray winning the 2008 event and going on to finish third in the Australian Competition earlier this year.

Introducing Jeremy Hulsdunk

We welcome Jeremy Hulsdunk as the new WA Barista Academy Manager and Head Trainer.

Well it seems like a pre-requisite that each trainer at the Barista Academy needs to compete and win the WA Barista Competition with Jen winning in 2008 and Mark recently winning 2009. In regards to Jeremy though, we thought we’d take the pressure off, as he already has that trophy in his pool room as the winner in the inaugural year 2006.

Eva Solo - A Simple Approach

Simply put, my first experience with the Eva Solo was memorable. I knew it must be mine for two reasons, simple and effective, which equates to less morning thinking more morning drinking.

Coffee Lab, Waterbury Vermont

Last month, I jumped at the opportunity to spend a week at Coffee Lab International on a 5 day roasting course. It was great to finally get some experience on a variety of commercial and sample roasters as well as a chance to use all the equipment in the “Lab” which is not only for namesake.

Traveling & Events

Wow .. time has flown! In just over 3 months I’ll be on my way back home to Perth.

2010 Western Australian Barista Championship

How quickly a year rolls around. It seems as though one minute Mark was celebrating his title as WA Barista Champion, and all too quickly, he’s set to defend it! That’s right; it’s time for the coffee industry’s glamour event of the year, the 2010 Western Australian Barista Championship.

Champion head trainer

The WA Barista Championship has been and gone for another year. It was an awesome weekend, with a field of 16 competing for the main title, and plenty of representation for the Latte Art and Cup Tasting Championships. Mark Chandler, from Five Senses Coffee, was crowned WA Barista Championship, with the WA Barista Academy’s Jeremy Hulsdunk taking silver.

Gearing up for the Australian Barista Championship

If you’ve wandered past the WA Barista Academy in the late afternoon hours of late, you might have wondered at the noise drifting out the door. With the Australian Barista Championship little more than two months away, WABA head trainer Jeremy Hulsdunk, along with Mark Chandler and Jen Murray from Five Senses, are putting in long (and noisy!) hours of practice.

WABA now offers night classes

Due to popular demand the WA Barista Academy now offers night classes. In addition to WABA's very popular Saturday classes the night classes have already started to fill up as people are finding it easier to fit into their busy schedules. The night classes will be available from 3 May, with limited spaces available.

WABA Closed until 28 July

Please note that WABA will be closed from 23 to 27 July. We’ll be back on Wednesday, 28 July. If you would like to book a place in one of our classes, please contact Shannon at Five Senses Coffee on 08 9528 6200.

Barista training at home

Now you can learn all the tricks and techniques of making the perfect coffee at home! We have produced a comprehensive DVD that breaks down the myths surrounding coffee preparation. This easy to understand, step-by-step DVD will teach you industry best practice techniques.