​DOMINIKA WHITE

Liafu’s Special Blend

 

DOMINIKA WHITE talks to Auckland coffee making champion Fa’atafa Liufau about the winning blend inspired by his Samoan upbringing

 

Managing a café in downtown Auckland is a far cry from the simple village life in Savai'i. But Fa'atafa Liufau went to the top of the coffee making business by drawing on his Samoan heritage.

 

The 27 year-old won first place in the Auckland Region Barista Championships with his coffee, Brown Eyed Girl, inspired by a traditional island jam recipe.

 

Liufau says his drink was made from espresso mixed with lime leaves, brown sugar and coconut cream, flavours found in the Samoan jam recipe fa'ausi, a treat he enjoyed with his family.

 

"Mum, Dad, Aunty and Uncle used to make it when the family got together, normally on a Sunday. I loved the fa'ausi," he says. Fa'ausi is made by melting brown sugar in coconut cream infused with lime leaves.

 

He plans to start serving his special blend in early May at Mojo Coffee, the Queen Street café he part owns.

 

Born in Falealupo and raised in Auala, Liufau carne to New Zealand in 1997. He originally disliked espressos or flat whites, preferring hot chocolate and instant coffee. He recalls his first time drinking coffee by sampling some from his girlfriend’s cup.

 

"When I first took a sip of her drink, I said to her, 'l don't know why you drink this stuff.'"

 

Liufau started working as a kitchen hand in Wellington for about eight months. He did a one-hour barista training course and now drinks around seven cups a day while managing his café on Queen Street.

 

The Westmere resident competed with 24 top baristas from Auckland, Hamilton, Cambridge, Morrinsville, Whitianga and Tauranga in April.

 

Contestants had 15 minutes to make their four signature coffees, four espressos and four cappuccinos.

 

Liufau is hoping his drink will help him win the New Zealand Barista Championships final being held in Wellington in May. He says he is nervous, "but at the same time I want to win it". If he does, he may be off to Denmark for the world championships. Liufau is contemplating opening a coffee shop back in Samoa, but admits it may be difficult. "My business partners and I are talking about it."