Grinding it out: Barista, 24, takes title at Hong Kong Cup Tasters Championship (and he never used to like coffee)
Professional competition taps into city's deepening appreciation of coffee
Like many baristas, Kwong Wai-ho never even liked coffee - until he began to work with it.
He was understandably in a state of shock when he took the title at the Hong Kong Cup Tasters Championship on Tuesday, a competition where baristas have to demonstrate speed, skill, and accuracy in distinguishing the taste differences in specialty coffees.
"Two years ago, I didn't even drink coffee and I knew nothing about it," the new champ said. "This is all quite surreal."
Slurping, sipping and spitting, Kwong nabbed a close win over finalists Jacob Tang Yik-hang and Chan Tin-lok at the Convention and Exhibition Centre in Wan Chai, earning HK$5,000 and a shot at the world championships in Shanghai next month.
Kwong, 24, left school after Form Five, taking up random jobs in catering and at a moving company.