2008 - Copenhagen, Denmark

2nd Place:
David Makin
(Australia)
click for video

3rd Place:
Liesbeth Sleijster
(The Netherlands)
click for video

4th Place:
Daniel Remheden
(Sweden)
click for video

5th Place:
Michael Yung
(Canada)
click for video

6th Place:
Soren Stiller Markussen
(Denmark)
video coming soon

Full results

The world watched, both live and via an internet live web-cast, as Stephen Morrissey of Ireland captured the 2008 World Barista Champion crown.

Held in conjunction with the 2008 SCAE Wonderful Coffee event, 51 national barista champions proved that the WBC is truly helping to elevate coffee-making standards around the world.

2007 - Tokyo, Japan

2nd Place:
Heather Perry
(USA)

3rd Place:
Carl Sara
(New Zealand)

Full results

In front of a record crowd of over 2000, 45 national barista champions from all over the world converged in Tokyo, Japan, for the first WBC event in Asia. In the end, James Hoffmann, barista champion from the United Kingdom, was crowned the 2007 World Barista Champion.
James used two separate single-origin coffees to prepare his three coffee courses, even combining the two for his signature drink. Click HERE to watch the online video.

2006 - Berne, Switzerland

2nd Place:
Sammy Piccolo (Canada)

3rd Place:
Matthew Riddle
(USA)

Full results

The beautiful city of Berne, Switzerland, was the host of the 7th annual World Barista Championship. 39 nations were battling for the prestigious world title and the level of the competitors has never been higher. A record-breaking amount of spectators were cheering and nearly blowing the roof off the building when Klaus Thomsen from Denmark was awarded the 2006 World Barista Champion title. His spectacular performance was based on what he believed “Speciality coffee can be in the year 2006” and the philosophy behind the presentation was that coffee is like a Symphony, where all “players”, or workers in the coffee chain, has to work together and towards the same goal in order to provide a perfect cup of espresso. His signature drink called “Symphony” was a three-layer drink consisting of coffee - panna cotta, espresso and coffee foam. Klaus is the 4th Danish world barista champion out of a total of 7.

2nd place:
Hiroyuki Kadowaki (Japan)

3rd place:
Sammy Piccolo (Canada)

Full results

In 2005 Seattle, the USA home of espresso coffee was the WBC host. Once again the worlds best Baristas and coffee enthusiasts gathered to experience the ultimate professional espresso experience. 35 countries competed to find the next champion. Scandinavia was successful again, for the third time a Danish competitor took the crown. Troels Overdall Poulsen was triumphant in the USA coffee capital. Click HERE to watch the online video.

2nd place:
Sammy Piccolo (Canada)

3rd place:
Klaus Thomsen (Denmark)

Full results

In its fifth year the WBC traveled to Trieste, Italy, the home of Italian coffee and quality espresso. A record breaking 34 representatives battled to win the title which for the first time was also accompanied by a competition of a different kind. Judges as well as baristas had to work for a position in the competition. In front of an audience of hundreds Tim Wendelboe of Norway proudly earned the now much sought after title of World Barista Champion.

2nd place:
Asa Jelena Petterson (Iceland)

3rd place:
Eirik S. Johnsen (Norway)

Full results

Boston, 2003. The WBC had now gained such momentum that the competition was broadcast on national morning TV to over 20 million Americans (not to mention the rest of the world!) From a tough pool of 28 baristas the championship was awarded for the first time out side of Scandinavia. Paul Bassett from Australia overwhelmingly took top honours with a convincing and solid performance.

2nd place:
Tim Wendelboe (Norway)

3rd place:
Vikram Kurana (India)

Full results

For the third annual World barista Championship we were back in Europe, as Oslo, Norway and the SCAE hosted the competition for 2002. Once again baristas from across the globe came together to battle for the title. 24 baristas worked tirelessly but the winner was once again the Scandinavian nation of Denmark. Fritz Storm blasted home to win.

2nd place:
Tim Wendelboe (Norway)

3rd place:
Roberto dell Aquilla (Sweden)

Full results

2001 saw the competition move to the USA, to the hot and steamy beach city of Miami, Florida. This time around 17 baristas came to represent their home countries and once again the winner was plucked from the north – Denmark’s Martin Hildebrandt took home the crown.

2nd place:
Erla Kristisdottir (Iceland)

3rd place:
Martin Hildebrandt (Denmark)

Full results

In 2000 in Monte Carlo, a group of like minded individuals got together and presented the first annual World Barista Championship. Their vision was to create a competition that showcased the best baristas from around the globe. 12 people competed from various nations and the competition was won by Robert Thoresen of Norway.