Hillcrest barista carries Ubuntu to the world
The Starbucks Hillcrest barista and 2026 National Champion has turned a love of people, coffee and his mother’s story into a winning cup.
STARBUCKS Hillcrest store’s Musawenkosi Mosikili was named Starbucks South Africa’s 2026 National Champion at the national final at the Starbucks Reserve in Melrose Arch recently.
In September he will travel to the Starbucks EMEA Support Centre in Chiswick, London. The EMEA Championship runs from September 16 to 18 and Mosikili will join the other finalists from the 11th.
When asked about the win he does not talk about trophies, he talks about people. “Some of the best moments we get to experience in life are when we feel seen, heard and inspired,” he said.
“Through each cup I craft, I have a moment of connection.” That, more than anything, is what the championship gave him. A bigger stage for something he was already doing every morning.
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His winning drink says the same thing in a cup. He built the Caramel Comfort Cold Brew as a portrait of his mother. It opens with a pump of chocolate sauce poured on top, two swirls of caramel drizzle down the inside of the cup, and the signature cold brew.
To him, that base holds his mother’s strength and the solid footing she gave him. He fills the ice to the third line. That is the Starbucks house measure, there to steady the temperature and stop the drink from watering down. To him, that line is her too, the one who keeps the family grounded when things around them turn to chaos.
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The finish is a velvety oat milk cold foam lifted with two pumps of white chocolate. It settles over the bold coffee like a sweet blanket, which is how he describes her gentle care.
“This beverage is basically a picture of my mom. I can’t wait to show the whole world the inspiration behind this South African Champion.”
He carries the same warmth to his guests. He is always nudging them toward reusable cups, and he means it.
Mosikili added that he never expected any of it. “I have always wanted to share my story with the world. I just did not think it would be so soon.”
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