the discipline
world barista championship
the flagship — espresso, milk, and signature drinks judged across 15 minutes of pure pressure.
what it is
The World Barista Championship is the most-watched coffee competition on earth. Competitors prepare four espressos, four milk drinks, and four signature drinks for four sensory judges in a single 15-minute performance — scored on taste, technique, hospitality, and the story behind their coffee. National champions from over 50 countries qualify each year. The discipline has been running since 2000 and has produced names like Pete Licata, Sasa Sestic, Berg Wu, Hugh Kelly, and Mikael Jasin — each shifting global coffee culture from the stage upward.
how to qualify
National Barista Championship (sanctioned by the regional SCA chapter) → World Barista Championship final
upcoming regional rounds
- 25–26 september 2026australian barista championship final 2026 · melbournedetails
- 15–16 october 2026japan barista championship final 2026 · tokyodetails
- 17–18 october 2026spanish barista championship final 2026 · madriddetails
- 22–25 october 2026world barista championship 2026 · panama citydetails
- 5–6 november 2026