On the 14th Feb 2015, the PDG’s newest coffee correspondent, D. Wang, headed to Ozone Coffee Roasters in New Plymouth, North Island for New Zealand’s first ever AeroPress championship. Some might have said that the occasion was the ideal setting for a caffeinated Valentine’s day date. All we know is that 18 participants prepared served some delicious coffees.

BK Kang and Michael Stevens. Credit: Michael CY Park

The winner was BK Kang, head barista at RAD café in Auckland. Originally from S.Korea, BK has been working in specialty coffee for the last 2 years. This guy studied Politics and Film in university, and has been a personal trainer as well as a barista. On top of all these, he’s also a dab hand at making barista aprons. Talented, right?

The Coffee

Santa Teresa Cabana Washed Geisha from Panama:

Farm: Finca Santa Teresa

Region: Volcan

Altitude: 1450 MASL

Process: Fully Washed

The Winning Recipe

Dose: 17.5g

Inverted AeroPress with paper filter

1^st step: 50ml water (6.5Ph) at 92°C

2^nd step: 30 seconds bloom

3^rd step: add 50ml water, stir 7 times with teaspoon

4^th step: add 150ml water

5^th step: 60 seconds press down

Judging the finals – a unanimous decision. Credit: Michael CY Park

Perfect Daily Grind.