Mala Tavita began his career in the hospitality industry in the QSR sector, starting at the young age of 16.
Auckland-based barista Mala Tavita remembers his first job in hospitality vividly. He and his friend walked into Burger King after school, searching for a side hustle to help fund their school trip to Christchurch.
“We were both offered the job right after we filled in the application form, and the youth rate at the time was only NZ $7.25 an hour,” said Tavita, now the head barista of Auckland’s Crave & KIND cafe in the Morningside area.
“Since then, I have never looked back and have never really wanted to do anything else.”
His passion for hospitality and eagerness to learn led him down his coffee journey. He added that he also saw excellent career growth opportunities, which influenced his decision to get more involved.
“I also wanted to be your go-to guy for your morning boost every morning.”
According to him, the most rewarding aspect of his job as a barista has been the opportunity to connect with customers and to make their day a little better.
Over the years, Tavita has also found fulfilment in continuously learning more about coffee and improving his skills. He has enjoyed making delicious coffees and seeing the satisfaction on customers’ faces.
“Being part of a vibrant and welcoming coffee community is also awesome.”
Tavita described a great coffee as one made from freshly roasted beans. At Crave & KIND, the beans are roasted in small batches to ensure freshness, good flavours, and peak aromas.
He highlighted that the balance of flavours was one of the two most essential aspects, the other being that the best coffee is the one that is made with love.
“It will not only wake you up, but it will make you feel amazing, helping you to start your day well.”
His go-to coffee preference is a double shot latte, owing to his love for milk. He described that the espresso provided a bold and robust flavour, and the combination of that with some silky steamed milk added a creamy and smooth texture to the cup.
When he is not working, Mala Tavita loves spending time with his friends and family. He also keeps active and enjoys fishing.
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