The World Coffee Championships (WCC) are a series of seven global, skills-based contests that celebrate excellence and innovation in specialty coffee. Each year top baristas, brewers, roasters and coffee professionals from around the world gather to compete, network, and share knowledge.
This year, the championships will take place in four major cities across the globe.
Dates and Locations
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World Coffee Roasting Championship – Houston, TX, USA (April 25–27, 2025): For the first time ever the Roasting Championship comes to North America. Top roasters compete in a three-stage event, judged on coffee grading, roasting profile development, and the quality of the brewed cups.
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World Brewers Cup – Jakarta, Indonesia (May 15–17, 2025): Baristas showcase manual brewing skills using filter methods. Contestants brew three coffee drinks in a compulsory round (using a provided bean) and two drinks in an open round (their choice), each set of beverages judged on aroma, flavor, body and balance. (This is the first time the Brewers Cup is held in a major coffee-producing country.)
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World Latte Art, Good Spirits, Cup Tasters & Cezve/Ibrik – Geneva, Switzerland (June 26–28, 2025): At the World of Coffee Geneva show, four championships run together. The Latte Art contest has baristas create pairs of identical latte designs (free-pour and etched patterns) under pressure, judged on visual beauty and contrast. The Coffee in Good Spirits contest is a coffee cocktail competition – competitors mix coffee with alcohol (think creative Irish Coffees and caffeinated cocktails) to show mixology flair. The Cup Tasters contest challenges participants to identify the “odd” coffee out of sets of three by taste and smell, testing speed and accuracy. The Cezve/Ibrik contest celebrates traditional Turkish-style coffee: competitors brew in a small pot (cezve) and infuse their own cultural twist into one of the world’s oldest coffee preparations.
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World Barista Championship – Milan, Italy (Oct 17–21, 2025): The highlight event is the Barista Championship, now in its 25th anniversary year. Each barista has 15 minutes on stage to prepare a series of espresso-based drinks (espresso, milk beverages, and a signature drink) with skill and creativity. Performances are judged on taste, technique and presentation. The best baristas from over 50 countries will compete for the title. Alongside the competition, the HostMilano expo will feature coffee product showcases and trend previews, as organizers expect “many of the world’s top baristas” and a chance to “preview the most exciting new trends” in coffee.
Competition Highlights
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Roasting Championship (Houston): Roasters compete in a three-stage challenge that tests coffee knowledge and technical skill. Judges score them on everything from how they grade green beans to how they dial in a roasting profile, and ultimately on the cup quality of each roast. Recent sponsor highlights (like an all-electric smart roaster) show the focus on technology and sustainability in roasting.
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Brewers Cup (Jakarta): This contest “celebrates the art of manual brewing”. Competitors must brew consistent, delicious filter coffee. In the compulsory round they all use the same beans (judged on aroma, body, balance, etc.), and in the open round each brewer selects their own bean and makes a short presentation. The enforced TDS limit keeps focus on flavor. It’s a test of precision and clarity in brewing.
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Latte Art Championship (Geneva): Baristas create latte art patterns under time pressure. In prelims each makes two pairs of lattes (free-pour and etching styles) in 8 minutes. Top competitors advance to a new semi-final stage (including an “Art Bar” display and a main stage routine) and finally a head-to-head final. Judges score on pattern symmetry, creativity and visual contrast. Latte Art sponsors are even introducing automated foam machines (the first auto machine debuted in 2024) to inspire new designs.
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Coffee in Good Spirits (Geneva): Think coffee cocktails. Competitors must mix coffee with liquor in creative ways. In prelims, they make hot and cold coffee-alcohol drinks (including random “mystery box” ingredients). In the final round baristas prepare two classic Irish Coffees and two custom coffee cocktails. Judges score mixology, taste and presentation. This event highlights how coffee can be paired with spirits in fun recipes (from Irish Coffee to innovative caffeinated cocktails).
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Cup Tasters (Geneva): A sensory showdown. Competitors smell and taste coffees to find the “odd one out.” Three cups are placed together (two are the same coffee, one is different), and the faster and more accurately a taster spots the odd cup, the better. Eight such triangular flights are served each round. The fastest qualifiers move to semis and then a final. It’s a true test of coffee palate and speed.
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Cezve/Ibrik (Geneva): In this contest, baristas brew coffee in a cezve (small Turkish pot) and serve it in traditional demitasses. Each competitor brings their own cultural style – for example spices or special serving rituals – to showcase “one of the oldest forms of preparing coffee”. Judges focus on brewing technique, taste, authenticity and the unique presentation each brewer adds.
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Barista Championship (Milan): The premier coffee contest. Each barista gives a 15-minute show crafting four espressos, four milk beverages, and four signature drinks from a secret ingredient. Judges (coffee, milk and sensory judges) score on taste, technique and presentation. In 2025 the WBC celebrates its 25th anniversary – having grown from just 17 competitors in 1999 to over 50 countries today. The title attracts “the finest baristas” worldwide and often sets industry trends. (For context, Indonesia’s Mikael Jasin won the 2024 WBC, and this year top champions and rising stars will be on stage in Milan.)
Looking Ahead
These championships are more than just competitions; they are a glimpse into the future of coffee. You’ll see the latest trends, from new brewing gadgets and high-tech roasters to innovative coffee recipes.
The 2025 season is especially exciting. The Barista Championship is celebrating its 25th anniversary in Milan, a city known for its rich coffee culture. Meanwhile, other events are breaking new ground by being held in places like Houston and Jakarta for the first time.
Whether you’re a coffee professional or just someone who enjoys a good cup, the 2025 World Coffee Championships offer a fantastic look at the passion and creativity that goes into making the perfect coffee. It’s a global celebration of skill, tradition, and the constant search for the next great brew.
Sources: read more on https://wcc.coffee/, https://sca.coffee/
