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The ancient city of Athens, Greece, recently hosted the prestigious 2023 World of Coffee event, featuring four thrilling World Coffee Championships: the World Barista Championship, World Brewers Cup, World Cup Tasters, and World Cezve/Ibrik Championship. With over 140 coffee professionals from around the globe participating, the event showcased the skills, creativity, and passion that drive the specialty coffee industry forward.
The Athens World Coffee Championships took place from June 21-24, 2023, and featured four skill-based competitions. The championships are organized by World Coffee Events.
What Are The World Coffee Championships?
The World Coffee Championships are a series of competitions that celebrate the skills and creativity of coffee professionals from around the globe.
The competitions take place at different locations and on different dates around the world and include:
- The World Barista Championship
- The World Brewers Cup
- The World Cup Tasters Championship
- The Cezve/Ibrik Championship
- World Coffee in Good Spirits Championship
- The World Coffee Roasting Championship
- The World Latte Art Championship
The following four championships were held in Athens in 2023:
The World Barista Championship promotes excellence in coffee, advancing the barista profession and engaging a worldwide audience.
The World Brewers Cup highlights the craft of filter coffee brewing by hand and promotes manual coffee brewing and service excellence.
The World Cup Tasters Championship, where competitors demonstrate their ability to distinguish taste differences in specialty coffees, showcasing their speed, skill, and accuracy.
The Cezve/Ibrik Championship celebrates the cultural tradition of brewing coffee using a cezve or ibrik.
The competitions in Athens took place alongside the annual European World of Coffee trade show, produced by the global Specialty Coffee Association.
The association’s three other sanctioned world coffee competitions — roasting, latte art, and coffee in good spirits — are scheduled in November 2023 in Taipei, Taiwan.
The Winners Of The Athens Championships
The winners of each championship were:
1. World Barista Championship: Boram Um from Brazil emerged as the 23rd World Barista Champion, making him the second-ever winner representing South America after Diego Campos’ victory in 2021 [1].
2. World Brewers Cup Championship: Carlos Medina from Chile secured the top spot in this category.
3. World Cup Tasters Championship: Young Baek from Australia became the new champion.
4. Cezve/Ibrik Championship: Pierre de Chanterac from France won the 2023 Cezve/Ibrik title.
Source: DailyCoffeeNews
What Do Competitors Need To Do To Win The World Barista Championship?
The competitors who placed in the first six of the final of the 2023 World Barista Championship were:
- Boram Um, Brazil (1st place)
- Tetsu Kasuya, Japan (2nd place)
- Jia Ning Du, China (3rd place)
- Kalle Freese, Finland (4th place)
- Agnieszka Rojewska, Poland (5th place)
- Rie Hanaoka, Japan (6th place)
To win the World Barista Championship in Athens 2023, participants had to showcase their skills in a 15-minute performance, during which they prepared and served 12 drinks: 4 espressos, 4 milk beverages, and 4 original signature drinks [1].
The competition had three rounds of judging over two days, with the first round including national barista champions, the top 15 of whom advanced to the semi-final round, along with a wildcard placing. The final round comprised the top-scoring six baristas from the semi-final round.
Congratulations and well done, Boram Um!
The 2023 competition introduced some significant changes to the rules and regulations, including new scoring scales and the option for competitors to use plant-based or other animal milk for their milk beverage course [2].
Additionally, competitors could brew their espresso using a range of group head temperatures [2]. The scoresheets for the World Barista Championship were redesigned for clarity and ease of use [2].
Competitors were judged based on various factors, including the quality of their beverages, presentation, and overall performance [3].
If you are interested, there is much more detail about what competitors need to do for the World Barista Championship in their rules and regulations.
Sources:
- World Barista Championship – Wikipedia
- Announcing the 2023 Athens WCC Rules & Regulations
- World Coffee Championships – Specialty Coffee Association
What is the Coffee Value Assessment, and how is it related to the new scoring scales in the 2023 World Barista Championship
The Coffee Value Assessment (CVA) is a new tool developed by the Specialty Coffee Association (SCA) to provide a comprehensive and holistic evaluation of a coffee’s value across four separate assessment types: physical, sensory, extrinsic, and descriptive [1][2]. The CVA aims to offer a more transparent and complete assessment of a coffee’s valuable attributes, allowing industry professionals to better understand and market their products [2].
The new scoring scales introduced in the 2023 World Barista Championship were designed to better align the competition with the direction of coffee value assessment systems, such as the CVA[3].
The new scoring scales include a yes/no score (or 1/0) for the Evaluation Scales stage, a numeric score from 0 to 3 for “accuracy,” a numeric score from 0 to 3 for “impression,” and a numeric score from 0 to 6 for “experience” [4]. These changes aim to better reflect the skills and areas of focus for the competitions and provide a more comprehensive evaluation of the competitors’ performances [3].
Sources
- SCA Coffee Value Assessment
- The SCA to release Beta version of Coffee Value Assessment – Global Coffee Report
- Rules & Regulations – World Barista Championship
- 2023 World Barista Championship: New Rules & Trends – Perfect Daily Grind
What Do Competitors Need to Do To Win The World Brewers Cup Championship?
The competitors who placed in the first six of the final of the 2023 World Brewers Cup Championship were:
Carlos Medina, Chile (1st place)
Savina Giachgia, Greece (2nd place)
Garam Victor Um, Brazil (3rd place)
Luca Croce, United Kingdom (4th place)
George Peng, China (5th place)
Giacomo Vannelli, Italy (6th place)
Competitors had to participate in the first and final rounds to win the World Brewers Cup Championship in Athens 2023.
During the first round, competitors completed two coffee services – a compulsory service and an open service.
For the compulsory service, competitors prepared three beverages using whole-bean coffee provided by the competition.
For the open service, competitors used their choice of whole-bean coffee and accompanied their beverage preparation with a presentation.
The six competitors with the highest scores from the first round advanced to the finals round, which consisted exclusively of an open service.
Carlos Medina from Chile emerged as the winner of the 2023 World Brewers Cup Championship. Congratulations and well done, Carlos Medina!
If you are interested, there is much more detail about what competitors need to do for the World Brewers Cup championship in their rules and regulations.
What Do Competitors Need to Do To Win The World Cup Tasters Championship?
To win the World Cup Tasters Championship in Athens 2023, competitors had to demonstrate speed, skill, and accuracy in distinguishing taste differences in specialty coffees. The competition format involved rounds, each consisting of eight sets of three cups of coffee.
In each set, two cups contained identical coffees; one cup contained a different coffee. The competitors had to identify the odd cup in each set as quickly as possible.
The top eight competitors with the most correct answers and the fastest time advanced to the semi-final round, and the top four proceeded to the final round to determine the World Cup Tasters Champion.
Young Baek from Australia emerged as the 2023 World Cup Tasters Championship winner. Congratulations and well done, Young Baek! It is great to see an Aussie winner!
If you are interested, there is much more detail about what competitors need to do for the World Cup Tasters Championship in their rules and regulations.
What Do Competitors Need To Do To Win The World Cezve/Ibrik Championship?
To win the World Cezve/Ibrik Championship in Athens 2023, competitors had to showcase their skills in preparing coffee using a cezve or ibrik, a traditional brewing method popular in parts of Eastern Europe, the Middle East, and North Africa.
The Cezve/Ibrik Championship generally encourages participants to bring their style and cultural elements to their performance, celebrating the cultural tradition of this brewing method.
Pierre de Chanterac from France won the 2023 World Cup Tasters Championship.
Congratulations and well done, Pierre de Chanterac!
If you are interested, there is much more detail about what competitors must do in their rules and regulations for the World Cezve/Ibrik Championship.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
Who Are World Coffee Events
World Coffee Events (WCE) is an event management organization registered in Dublin, Ireland.
It was originally founded in 2011 by the Specialty Coffee Association of Europe and the Specialty Coffee Association of America, which have since unified to become the Specialty Coffee Association.
WCE organizes and manages various coffee competitions and events worldwide, including the World Barista Championships and the Re:co Symposium.
The current WCE portfolio includes all seven annual World Coffee Championships previously mentioned: the World Barista Championship, the World Cup Tasters Championship, the World Latte Art Championship, the World Coffee in Good Spirits Championship, the World Brewers Cup, the World Coffee Roasting Championship, and the Cezve/Ibrik Championship [1][2].
Sources:
How does the World Barista Championship work?
The World Barista Championship is an international competition that promotes excellence in coffee, advances the barista profession, and engages a worldwide audience. Competitors prepare espressos, milk drinks, and original signature drinks to exacting standards and are evaluated by certified judges on the taste of beverages served, cleanliness, creativity, technical skill, and overall presentation.
How can coffee professionals train to become a World Coffee Championships judge?
Becoming a World Coffee Championships judge typically involves attending a judge certification workshop, where participants learn about the competition rules, evaluation criteria, and judging techniques. These workshops are organized by World Coffee Events and may require participants to pass a practical examination to become certified.
How can a person enter the World Coffee Championships?
To enter the World Coffee Championships, a competitor must first participate in and win their national-level competition in their respective category (e.g., Barista, Brewers Cup, Cup Tasters, etc.).
Each country’s specialty coffee association or organization typically organizes these national competitions. Once a competitor has won their national championship, they become eligible to represent their country at the World Coffee Championships.
What does it take to win a World Coffee Championship?
Winning a World Coffee Championship requires skill, creativity, dedication, and passion for coffee. Competitors must excel in their specific category, whether espresso preparation, manual brewing, cup tasting, or latte art.
They must also demonstrate a deep understanding of coffee, its origins, and its flavor profiles. Additionally, competitors should be able to effectively communicate their knowledge and passion to the judges and audience.
How many participants typically compete in the World Coffee Championships?
The number of participants in the World Coffee Championships varies yearly, depending on the number of countries participating and the specific competition categories.
Generally, over 100 competitors from around the globe participate in various competitions, such as the World Barista Championship, World Brewers Cup, World Cup Tasters Championship, and others.
Is the World Coffee Championships very competitive?
Yes, the World Coffee Championships are highly competitive events that attract the best coffee professionals worldwide. Competitors must first win their national championships to qualify for the world stage, ensuring that only the top talent in each country is represented.
The level of skill, creativity, and passion displayed by the competitors is a testament to the competitiveness and prestige of these championships.
Who Provides all the equipment for the World Coffee Championships?
The equipment providers for the World Coffee Championships vary depending on the specific competition as follows:
1. World Barista Championship:
– Qualified Espresso Machine: Tempesta by Storm Barista Attitude [1]
– Qualified Espresso Grinder: Mythos MY75 by Victoria Arduino [1]
– Qualified Water Filtration sponsor: BWT water+more [1]
– Qualified Cleaning sponsor: Cafetto [2]
2. World Cup Tasters Championship:
– Qualified Brewer sponsor: Sage [2]
– Qualified Water Filtration sponsor: BRITA [2]
– Qualified Cleaning sponsor: Cafetto [2]
3. World Brewers Cup:
– Title Sponsor: Hario [3]
– Qualified Water Filtration sponsor: BRITA [2]
– Qualified Cleaning sponsor: Cafetto [2]
4. Cezve/Ibrik Championship:
– Information on specific Cezve/Ibrik Championship equipment providers is not readily available. However, Cafetto is an official sponsor of the World Coffee Championships in general [3], which may include the Cezve/Ibrik Championship.
These sponsors provide the equipment and products competitors use on stage, ensuring that every world championship competitor uses the same high-quality equipment [1].
Sources:
- Announcing the 2022-2025 World Barista Championship Qualified Sponsors
- Announcing Qualified Sponsors for Upcoming World Coffee Championships
- Sponsors – Athens World Coffee Championships
Who Sponsors The World Coffee Championships?
The World Coffee Championships are sponsored by various companies that provide equipment and products for the competitions. Some of the sponsors for the 2022-2025 World Coffee Championships include:
1. Astoria: Official sponsor of the World Latte Art and World Coffee in Good Spirits Championships [1].
2. Cafetto: Qualified Cleaning sponsor for the World Barista Championship, World Brewers Cup, and World Cup Tasters Championship [2][3][4].
3. Victoria Arduino: WBC Qualified Espresso Machine sponsor [5].
4. BWT water+more: WBC Qualified Water Filtration sponsor [5].
5. Sage: Qualified Brewer sponsor for the World Cup Tasters Championship [2].
6. BRITA: Qualified Water Filtration sponsor for the World Brewers Cup and World Cup Tasters Championship [3].
7. Storm Barista Attitude: WBC Qualified Espresso Machine sponsor for the Tempesta [6].
8. Nuova Simonelli: WBC sponsored espresso grinder [7].
These sponsors sign multi-year agreements to support the strategic growth of the competitions and dedicate time and resources to ensure that every world championship competitor uses the same high-quality equipment[4].
Sources:
- WCE – Astoria Official Sponsor of World Latte Art and World Coffee in Good Spirits Championship – Comunicaffe International
- Cafetto is qualified sponsor for the World Coffee Championships – Comunicaffe International
- Announcing Qualified Sponsors for Upcoming World Coffee Championships
- Sponsors – World Barista Championship
- Cafetto named World Coffee Championship Qualified Sponsor
- Astoria’s Storm in the limelight at the 2018 The Milan Coffee Festival
- World Coffee Championships announce rules changes for 2023
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