Waikato-born Megan Illing is only 22 years old and has already been a head barista at Punnet Eatery for a year.
The oldest of five daughters, Illing had a natural inclination towards helping her mother in the kitchen at a very young age, so she decided to pursue a career in hospitality and took a course at Wintec, Hamilton. There, she immediately fell in love with the art of coffee-making.
Illing’s go-to coffee order is a piccolo latte with a hint of vanilla. However, to her, what makes a good coffee is the smile or chat that comes along with it.
Being outdoorsy and working on the farm with her father taught Illing how always to take up a challenge, which sometimes the job of a barista can be, but it also has its perks, with friendships and community building that come along with it.
She works at Punnet Eatery, a great workplace providing a high-end experience while retaining its communal, familial and rural elements. In her free time, she lives a proper farm life with her husband in Gordonton, looking after their chicken, harvesting the vegetable garden or baking something for tea time with the grandparents.
