World Barista Championship
The World Barista Championship (WBC) is an annual barista competition operated by World Coffee Events for the title of World Barista Champion. The competition is composed of the winners of the national barista championships, which are operated by the Specialty Coffee Association (SCA) chapters, or an approved, independent, non-profit national body. First held in 2000, the event is hosted in a different city every year. The most recent edition in 2023 was in Athens, with the 2024 edition scheduled to take place in Busan, South Korea.
Barista Jong Hoon Lee preparing coffee at the 2015 World Barista Championships while several judges are taking notes
Image: WBC pouring split
Image: Gwilym Davies
A barista is a person, usually a coffeehouse employee, who prepares and serves espresso-based coffee drinks and other beverages.
James Hoffmann at the World Barista Championship (2006)
Gwilym Davies, WBC champion 2009
Good espresso-making is essential to a barista's role.
Latte art is a visible sign of a trained barista and well-frothed milk.