The MONIN Creativity Coffee Cup 2025 was won by Hanna Teramoto, who brewed to victory with her "Pink Alchemy" creation.
On a Saturday afternoon in April, MONIN NZ welcomed four talented contestants to Altura Café in Albany to showcase their exceptional talent and creativity to compete for the winning title of the MONIN Creativity Coffee Cup NZ 2025.
This year’s theme: Alchemy of Flavours, a celebration of the magical transformation that occurs when MONIN products are expertly infused with the complex profiles of coffee.
Hanna Teramoto emerged as the national champion having brewed her signature creation ‘Pink Alchemy’, a mocktail inspired by specialty coffee’s evolving fermentation techniques and the art of flavour enhancement.
Teramoto blended MONIN’s Strawberry and Cherry Blossom syrups with espresso and fermented ingredients such as miso, kefir and yoghurt, which were able to strike a masterful balance of richness, acidity and complexity. The result? A masterpiece that showcased where science meets art in the cup.
The MONIN Creativity Coffee Cup 2025 criteria stated that contestants must currently be employed by a restaurant, bar or a food and beverage establishment in New Zealand and must work at least two shifts per week. Each contestant made four beverages, three for each of the judges and one to be photographed.
The competition was strong, with each finalist delivering creative, well-crafted drinks to a panel of expert judges that included a former Coffee Creativity Cup winner of both NZ and Asia-Pacific regions, Honoka Kawashima.
As the winner of this year's competition, Teramoto will have the opportunity to go on and represent New Zealand this September in the Monin Creativity Coffee Cup Asia-Pacific final in Malaysia. Teramoto’s flights and accommodation were included as part of the prize.
Watch this space – the Pink Alchemy journey has just begun.
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