What an exciting season of SCASA Coffee Competitions! Two new Regional Champs so far! Let's see what KZN can bring!
Introducing the 2025 GP Regional Champion: Munashe Gumbo of Father Coffee
Congratulations! This is your second year of competition, correct? How did it feel on stage this time around? Did your experiences in 2023/24 make this Regionals 'easier'?
Thank you and yes, that's correct! This marks my second year competing. It was incredibly exciting! I felt more prepared this year, I was able to draw from my experience last year, which was primarily about learning the competition. This time, I focused on correcting the mistakes I made at Nationals.
I wouldn’t necessarily say it was easier; rather, it made the experience more enjoyable. I found myself feeling more excited than nervous, perhaps because I felt more prepared than the previous year.
What coffee did you use and why?
I used a coffee from the Huila region of Colombia, specifically from a farm called El Divisio, produced by Nestor Lasso. This coffee aligned perfectly with my theme for the set, which was "Coffee is an Art." I carry this principle with me every day. For those I've brewed coffee for, you know how much I love experimenting with different vessels. I served my espresso in a wine glass, drawing inspiration from the art of winemaking that Nestor Lasso employs in his processing of this exquisite red bourbon.
How did you get into coffee originally?
My journey began in retail, where I realised I wasn’t earning enough to enjoy the specialty coffee I loved. So, I decided to look for a job at Father Coffee, after I had a flat white from Diego Bermudez.
How did Team Father Coffee approach training for Regionals?
My coach, Chad, advised me to create a set that reflects my personality, rather than trying to emulate someone else. For those who know me, I had been serving pour-over coffees in a Gabriel wine glass for half of last year, which inspired me to incorporate this elements from the wine industry - which provides a unique experience from the vessel.
And follow up question, what is it like to be part of Team Father?
As I mentioned earlier, enjoying high-quality coffee every day is such a privilege. The Father Coffee team feels like a family - our friendship makes work feel less like work. We genuinely go to work to have fun!
What are your aspirations for competition? And just how competitive are you?!
My goal is to learn and grow within the coffee community. I compete primarily to have fun and to challenge myself to become a better barista. I’m very competitive, especially when I know I'm serving high quality product
