Damien Curmi, lead barista at Café Cuba, Pjazza Tigné, Sliema, placed ninth in the Grand Marnier Grand European Competition. Damien was representing Malta in this prestigious competition after winning the local equivalent to this competition. In Nice, Damien was competing against 21 top European baristas from as many countries.

Damien is not a newcomer to the cocktail/barista profession. He comes from a family of top notch baristas which includes his father Vincent, who has won numerous cocktail competitions, both locally and abroad. Damien joined the Maltese Bartenders guild in 2006 and in that same year he won the Malta Bacardi Martini Grand Prix.  He went on to represent Malta in Pessione-Turin, Italy for the Bacardi Martini Grand Prix World Finals where he placed 11th from 28 countries.

In 2008 Damien placed first and second in the two major local competitions and represented Malta in the World Cup competition in Puerto Rico where he placed 12th out of 60 contestants. These impressive placing led to his nomination as Bartender of the Year.

Damien joined the Café Cuba baristas team in April. He has been instrumental in putting together the cocktail menu and also led the Café Cuba team in their preparation of a selection of mouth watering cocktails for the FIFA World Cup theme at Café Cuba.

As one of the most talented baristas in Malta, Damien considers the casual comfort of the Café Cuba lounge and the al fresco ambiance in Pjazza Tigné as the ideal setting to sip on a cool Mojito, or one of Ernest Hemingway’s own Daiquiris.