About the WBC
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!
| 2011 | Bogota, Colombia | . . . Come find out! |
| 2010 | London, United Kingdom | Michael Phillips (United States) |
| 2009 | Atlanta, USA | Gwilym Davies (United Kingdom) |
| 2008 | Copenhagen, Denmark | Stephen Morrissey (Ireland) |
| 2007 | Tokyo, Japan | James Hoffmann (United Kingdom) |
| 2006 | Berne, Switzerland | Klaus Thomsen (Denmark) |
| 2005 | Seattle, USA | Troels Overdal Poulsen (Denmark) |
| 2004 | Trieste, Italy | Tim Wendelboe (Norway) |
| 2003 | Boston, USA | Paul Bassett (Australia) |
| 2002 | Olso, Norway | Fritz Storm (Denmark) |
| 2001 | Miami, USA | Martin Hildebrandt (Denmark) |
| 2000 | Monte Carlo, Monaco | Robert Thoresen (Norway) |
