Mika Lindqvist won the Northern Lights Barista Open on Sunday in Helsinki. She scored 612 points. The runner-up finished 14 points behind.
The final took place in a packed hall. Fans lined the walls. When the score appeared, Lindqvist covered her face with both hands.
The routine
Lindqvist built her 15-minute set around her grandmother’s kitchen. She poured a flat white, an espresso and a signature drink in turn.
Her signature drink used a washed Colombian espresso. She added oat, goat and cow milk, each steamed to a different temperature. A judge called it “the most balanced drink of the weekend.”
The scores
Judges scored taste, technique and presentation. Lindqvist led on taste in all three rounds. Her technical score was the highest of the final.
I only wanted to serve a drink that felt like home.
What happens next
Lindqvist now qualifies for the national championship in the spring. She said she plans to keep working at her local café until then.
The silver medal went to a barista from Oulu. Bronze went to a competitor from Turku.
Competition organisers said attendance rose by a third compared with last year.
