Brankovan Milos Secures Second Place at the Lavazza Barista Challenge 2025 in Turin

In a spirited display of creativity and talent, Brankovan Milos proudly represented the United Arab Emirates at the Lavazza Barista Challenge 2025 finals in Turin, Italy — taking home second place among 17 top baristas from 17 different countries. In addition to this individual achievement, Milos and his team clinched first place in the highly anticipated “Mystery Box Challenge,” one of the standout segments of this year’s event.

Held from April 8 to 10 at La Centrale within the Nuvola Lavazza headquarters, the international competition brought together elite baristas who had qualified through national and regional rounds. The finals served as a global celebration of technical skill, storytelling, and innovation in coffee preparation.

George Nikolopoulos from Greece was crowned first place after beginning his journey by winning the national championship in his country and continuing to shine until securing a spot on the podium in Turin. George expressed his gratitude to his team and coach for their constant support, emphasizing that this experience marks the beginning of a new chapter of excellence in his professional journey.

Third place went to Ștefan Manole, who represented Romania and impressed the judges with his creativity, technical skill, and positive spirit. He also received the Audience Choice Award as the most beloved barista among attendees, earning the highest number of votes — blending professional recognition with public admiration.

In the Mystery Box Challenge, baristas teamed up with a trainer and two Lavazza team members to create a unique beverage using surprise ingredients revealed only at the moment of the challenge. The drink had to be built around Lavazza coffee, requiring teams to think fast, collaborate effectively, and showcase their creativity under pressure. The UAE team impressed the judges with a harmonious and inventive composition that stood out for its balance and originality.

This year’s edition of the Lavazza Barista Challenge introduced new dimensions to the competition. Beyond traditional espresso-based performances, finalists were tasked with presenting signature drinks that reflected their personalities, techniques, and cultural backgrounds. A key innovation was the Cold Coffee Challenge, which required competitors to create original cold brew recipes using Lavazza’s Tales of Italy blends — a nod to both Italy’s coffee heritage and modern preferences.

An esteemed international judging panel evaluated the entries based on creativity, technical execution, flavor balance, and the narrative behind each drink. The panel included:

• Fabrizio Fiorani – Pastry Chef, Zucchero x Fabrizio Fiorani (Rome)

• Lauro Fioretti – Coffee Expert, Simonelli Group

• Dario Tortorella – Mixologist, L’Antiquario (Naples)

• Federico Zanasi – Chef, Condividere (Turin)

Reflecting on the experience, Brankovan Milos shared:

“It was a great honor to stand alongside such inspiring talents and represent the UAE. Winning second place and sharing the top spot in the Mystery Box Challenge felt like a collective victory. The diversity of stories, techniques, and creativity on stage reminded us that while we may come from different parts of the world, we are united by one passion — coffee.”

Lavazza emphasized that the Barista Challenge is “more than a competition; it’s a platform to honor creativity, commitment, and the passion baristas bring to every cup.” The 2025 finals reaffirmed the company’s mission to support the next generation of coffee professionals and nurture a vibrant global coffee culture.