Celebrating 75 Years of Diners Club and South Africa’s Top Coffee Talent
As Diners Club International marks its 75th anniversary, it also kicks off one of South Africa’s most exciting celebrations of coffee culture—the 2025 Diners Club SA Barista of the Year competition. Entries officially opened on 2 May 2025, inviting coffee shops and baristas nationwide to participate in this esteemed contest before the closing date of 31 May 2025.
Now in its third year, this dynamic competition continues to celebrate the unsung heroes of the café world—the Day Makers who transform every cup into a moment of magic. The Barista of the Year competition provides a national platform to honour the passion, artistry, and innovation of South African baristas while boosting visibility for participating coffee shops.
Entry is completely free, encouraging inclusive participation from across the country. Coffee shop owners are urged to nominate their most skilled and charismatic baristas, giving their business a valuable opportunity to showcase excellence, engage their loyal patrons, and draw in new customers. Each competing establishment receives a QR code to display prominently, allowing customers to vote by scanning the code and submitting a vote per till slip.
Voting runs from 21 June to 31 July 2025, with Diners Club driving awareness through its website and vibrant social media platforms. Over the four-month campaign, competing baristas are profiled online, giving their stories and skills a national stage and attracting more foot traffic to their coffee counters.
The competition culminates in August 2025, when the votes are tallied and verified, and one deserving barista is crowned the Diners Club 2025 Barista of the Year. The winner will receive a R20,000 grand prize, a certificate of excellence to display at their coffee shop, and feature in a video interview published across Diners Club’s digital channels. Additionally, a full article will be published in Signature Magazine, capturing the winning barista’s journey and impact on South Africa’s coffee scene.
For more details or to enter, visit the official Diners Club SA website.
Stay connected and follow the journey:
#BaristaOfTheYear #DinersClubSA #CoffeeCommunity #TogetherBelong
