The World Barista Championship (WBC) is the preeminent international coffee competition. The organization—founded by the Speciality Coffee Association of Europe and the Specialty Coffee Association of America—focuses on promoting excellence in coffee, advancing the barista profession, and engaging a worldwide audience with an annual championship event that serves as the culmination of local and regional events around the globe.
Each year, champions representing more than 50 Nations each prepare 4 espressos, 4 cappuccinos, and 4 original signature drinks to exacting standards in a 15-minute performance set to music.
WBC Certified Judges from around the world evaluate each performance on the taste of beverages served, cleanliness, creativity, technical skill, and overall presentation. The ever-popular signature beverage allows baristas to stretch their imagination and the judges’ palates to incorporate a wealth of coffee knowledge into an expression of their individual tastes and experiences.
The top 12 competitors from the first round advance to a semi-final round to choose the top 6 competitors for the finals round… from which one winner is named World Barista Champion!
About the Founders:
The Speciality Coffee Association of America (SCAA) established in 1982, has inspired specialty coffee professionals in their quest to learn, grow and collaborate for the betterment of the specialty coffee industry for more than a quarter of a century. The association offers its members every opportunity for success through education, training, resources and business services. This focus has enabled the SCAA to grow into the world’s largest coffee trade association, with members representing more than 40 countries and every segment of the specialty coffee industry, from growers to roasters and retailers. The SCAA also founded the Roaster’s Guild of America and Barista’s Guild of America. Annually the SCAA hosts a Symposium & Exposition. For more information please visit, www.scaa.org.
The Speciality Coffee Association of Europe (SCAE), founded in 1998, originally developed the concept of the World Barista Championship. With a network of SCAE Chapters around Europe and beyond, the association held the first unique competition in Monte Carlo in 2000. Today, the SCAE produces a number of educational programs with a practical focus on all aspects of the specialty coffee sector, from roasting to running a coffee bar. The SCAE also manages other prestigious World Championships such as; the World Latte Art Championship, the World Cup Taster’s Championship, the World Coffee in Good Spirits, and the World Cezve/Ibrik Championship. These events can be witnessed annually at the SCAE’s Wonderful Coffee Conference & Exhibitions. For more information please visit, www.scae.com.
