WBC Logo TM

In 2000, the World Barista Championship was born. By the end of the WBC in Dublin, we will have crowned our seventeenth World Barista Champion. The history of the WBC has seen many evolutions in order to celebrate the continuing innovation in specialty coffee. This year, the competition has evolved to include a new reason to cheer, by introducing the first ever WBC TEAMS.

Why teams? In specialty coffee, teams exist everywhere—producers, green buyers, roasters, etc. Behind every competition barista, there is a team of individuals who contributes to their success. In the spirit of acknowledging the global coffee community, we thought we’d also incorporate a different kind of team—and a different way to win.

How were the teams selected? The teams were selected so that each is equally weighted, based on historical competition rankings.

What changes for the competitor? Nothing! The competitors will still perform their 15-minute routine, as they have prepared it. Each competitor is still vying for the ultimate title of World Barista Champion. That hasn’t changed. What has changed is that there will also be a winning team—so each competitor has a second way to win!

What’s the prize? An all-expense paid trip to the Cafe Show in Seoul, Korea in November, 2016! Seoul also happens to be the site for the 2017 World Barista Championship!

How can I participate? Cheer on your favorite team! Go meet them at the Team Bar during their shift! Share any ideas you have for the WBC evolution at info@wce2.flywheelsites.com!

What are the teams?

TEAM KNOCKBOX
Australia    Mexico
Puerto Rico Switzerland
Taiwan        Zambia
TEAM BLEND
Austria         Costa Rica
Finland         Hong Kong
Romania       Slovakia
TEAM BREW
Ireland       Lithuania
Malaysia    New Zealand
Iran            Ukraine
TEAM ESPRESSO
Belgium     Brazil
Denmark    Ecuador
Japan          Spain
TEAM EXTRACT
Greece       Kenya
Russia        South Africa
South Korea  Turkey
TEAM PORTAFILTER
Belarus        Colombia
Iceland         Philippines
Poland          USA
TEAM PRESSURE
China           Germany
Guatemala   India
Italy             Serbia
TEAM SCALE*
Nicaragua   Vietnam
Czech Republic Hungary
Netherlands Canada
Uganda
TEAM STEAM
El Salvador   Honduras
Latvia            Norway
Singapore      Thailand
TEAM TAMPER
France          Indonesia
Portugal       Sweden
UAE            United Kingdom

*The lowest score from Team Scale will be dropped for scoring purposes.