The 2025 MONIN Coffee Cup Australian champion has been crowned, with Vlatislav “Vlasto” Bartoska of Ona Coffee Sydney taking top honors at the national finals held on 21 May at Toby’s Estate in Fitzroy.
Bartoska’s creative mocktail, Tiramisu 2.0, wowed judges with its nostalgic flavor and striking presentation. Inspired by childhood memories of family gatherings and the classic Italian dessert, Bartoska said he wanted to bring dessert and drink together in one glass.
“My partner asked me, ‘Why does a drink have to be just a drink, and a dessert just a dessert?’ That sparked the idea,” Bartoska said. “It took around 25 to 30 versions before I got it right. I clarified the drink to get a beautiful pink color, like a raspberry, to make it stand out.”
Each of the six finalists was required to use at least 10 millilitres of a MONIN syrup or product, along with 30 millilitres (±5ml) of espresso, in their signature drink. The beverages were judged by 2023 MONIN Cup champion Danny Wilson, 2024 champion Jonathan Nati, and MONIN Brand Manager Danielle Wilson.
Bartoska now advances to the MONIN APAC Finals in September, where he will compete against top baristas from across the Asia-Pacific region.
The competition saw strong entries from all participants. Juliette Robin of The Coffee Commune finished as runner-up with her floral-inspired drink, The Butterfly & The Sakura, while Rinzin Norbu of TWR Crown placed third with The Ritual.
Other notable creations included:
- Grimhilde’s Vanity, a Snow White-themed drink by Anthony Leung (Toby’s Estate Brisbane)
- Blooming Sakura by debutant Natasha Nell (Stories)
- Flor de la Acidez by Louis Xu (Code Black Coffee)
The event was a showcase of creativity, coffee craftsmanship, and storytelling, celebrating the growing specialty coffee scene in Australia.
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