Last September 13, Starbucks Philippines held their 9th Starbucks Coffee Ambassador at the Colegio San Agustin Auditorium,Dasmariñas Village, Makati City. There are 16 finalists from different branches of Starbucks in the country and Pao Legaspi from Araneta Center branch emerges as the champion. She was joined by runner-ups including Ana Mendoza from Powerplant Mall (2nd), Jeremiah Orillosa from UP Ayala Technohub (3rd), Jason Enriquez from i2 Point Building in Cebu (4th) and Charlie Buenaflor from SM Mall of Asia Arena (5th).
The finalists undergo series of questions consist of multiple answer, true or falls, and written answers. Categories are divided into five rounds, which are short, tall, grande, venti and ambassador’s cup round. Only venti and ambassador’s cup rounds are non-elimination, which it determines the final 5 rankings base from question & answer and presentation of their chosen coffee.
The Starbucks Coffee Ambassador 2015 challenges the baristas of Starbucks not as server of the beverages and food that the store is offering but putting heart and passion in the things they do and the way they communicate to their visitors in the store.
During the venti and ambassador’s cup rounds, they were judged base from q&a and presentation by the Starbucks and Rustan’s Coffee executives namely Laura Elphick, Senior Regional Operations Services Manager of Starbucks China and Asia Pacific, Chris Bates, Regional Director of Operations, Starbucks China and Asia Pacific, Mark Ring, Senior Vice President and General Manager of Starbucks China and Asia Pacific, Noey Lopez, President – Rustan Coffee Corporation and Eduardo “Jun” Lopez, Chairman of the Board – Rustan Coffee Corporation.
All finalists received medals, while winners get additional prizes.
