Congratulations to Lucia Gadau of Nonnas Sheffield – she has been voted one of the best baristas in England!

She beat thousands of rivals across England to be just one of ten nominated for a coveted Italian Award!

The ‘Best Barista’ for 2015 will be announced as part of a glitzy ceremony in Manchester in October.

The Italian Awards are held in particular high esteem by the industry as it’s down to the public to vote for the nation’s favourites. They are used as a barometer by the Italian hospitality industry in the UK.

Lucia Gadau is renowned at Nonnas for her unrivalled coffee expertise which she brings direct from her home in Sardinia, Italy, where she first honed her craft.

She recently helped unveil a brand new coffee menu at Nonnas Sheffield that now boasts differing blends of ‘shakerato’ – a style of coffee regularly referred to as “the holy grail”.

Maurizio Mori, Nonnas proprietor, said: “I’ve never met anyone that works harder or cares more passionately about the coffee served to customers than Lucia. It has been wonderful to have her as part of the Nonnas team and it’s fantastic that her name has been put forward for the award – there really is no one more deserving.”

Lucia and her husband built a thriving coffee bar/patisserie in Sardinia before being forced out of business because the landlord wouldn’t renew their lease.

Thankfully she soon found her coffee making skills was in demand in other parts of Europe and she ended working in Switzerland.

But it was Sheffield she found her calling and she started working in Nonnas in 2013.

Lucia Gadau said: “I find there’s nothing more satisfying than a customer that’s happy with my coffee and my service!

“Sheffield is a lovely place and the people are so nice and I’m very touched that so many people have voted for me! To be shortlisted is a dream come true.”

Nonnas Sheffield are also up for an award themselves. They’ve been voted one of England’s best restaurant businesses.