FULL OF BEANS: Alasdair Tutt from Pitari’s Café Centro, Wangaratta is entering the inaugural Grinders Barista Competition to be held during the Viva Italia Festival.

ALASDAIR Tutt will be putting his heart and soul into the inaugural Grinders Barista Competition, which is part of this year’s Viva Italia Festival in Wangaratta.

The competition, hosted by Grinders Coffee and Business Wangaratta, will be held on Saturday, March 20 at Apex Park and there will be $800 worth of prizes courtesy of Grinders Coffee.

Alasdair is second barista at Pitari’s Café Centro, Murphy Street where he is considered very skilled and dedicated by his employers, who expect he will do well in the competition.

The competition aims to find the best barista in the region and each competitor will have 15 minutes to produce four espressos, four cappuccinos and a ‘mystery beverage’ selected from a menu card.

There are five judges who will assess competitors on quality of drinks, ability to describe the character of their coffee blend, service skills and equipment use.

Grinders Coffee was founded in Lygon Street, Carlton and has been producing premium boutique coffee since 1962.

Head festival judge is Richard Bradbury, Grinders Coffee Victorian trainer and a judge at the Australasian specialty coffee state and national titles.

"We are very proud to support the Viva Italia Festival with the inaugural barista competition," Mr Bradbury said.

Entries close soon.

Interested people can receive an entry form by contacting barista competition co-ordinator, Malcolm Bradbury, on 5721 2690.