Tag: Barista Competitions

Tokyo to Host World of Coffee 2027 and the World Barista Championship

Posted on by Qahwa World

Dubai – Qahwa World

The Specialty Coffee Association (SCA), in collaboration with Exporum Inc. and the Specialty Coffee Association of Japan (SCAJ), has officially announced that Tokyo, Japan will host World of Coffee 2027 and the World Barista Championship (WBC). The announcement was made during the SCAJ 2025 World Specialty Coffee Conference held in Japan.

The official signing ceremony brought together Yannis Apostolopoulos, CEO of the Specialty Coffee Association, Danny Shin, CEO of Exporum, and Yoshi Kato, President of the Specialty Coffee Association of Japan. The upcoming event will be the fourth edition of World of Coffee Asia, following successful shows in Busan and Jakarta. It will take place at Tokyo Big Sight from April 28 to May 1, 2027, and will feature the 27th World Barista Championship.

The return of the championship to Japan marks a significant milestone, coming twenty years after Tokyo last hosted the event in 2007. That year, James Hoffmann from the United Kingdom claimed the world title using coffees from Costa Rica and Kenya—an influential performance that transformed how baristas presented coffee origins and storytelling, cementing his place as one of the most respected figures in specialty coffee.

Since then, Tokyo has become a global hub of coffee innovation, precision, and design, with its cafés and roasters recognized for pushing the boundaries of quality and creativity. Japan remains one of the world’s largest coffee markets, known for its dedication to craftsmanship and detail. As the world prepares for World of Coffee Tokyo 2027, the international coffee community once again turns its attention to Japan as a center for inspiration and excellence in specialty coffee.

World of Coffee Tokyo 2027 will welcome exhibitors, sponsors, and attendees from across the global coffee value chain. Visitors will have the opportunity to watch the World Barista Championship live on the World Coffee Championships stage and take part in seminars, workshops, and industry sessions that showcase the latest trends shaping the future of coffee.

Further information regarding registration, exhibition, and event participation will be announced soon through the official channels of the Specialty Coffee Association and the World Coffee Championships.

World of Coffee and World Brewers Cup Head to Bogotá, Colombia in 2027

Posted on by Qahwa World

Dubai – Qahwa World

The Specialty Coffee Association (SCA) has officially announced that World of Coffee Bogotá 2027 will take place in Colombia’s vibrant capital city from September 30 to October 2, 2027, hosting the prestigious World Brewers Cup competition.

The announcement was made during the first round of the 2025 World Barista Championship at HostMilano, where SCA CEO Yannis Apostolopoulos and Federación Nacional de Cafeteros de Colombia (FNC) CEO Germán Alberto Bahamón Jaramillo jointly revealed the exciting news.

Strengthening the SCA–FNC Partnership

This milestone event marks a new chapter in the collaboration between the SCA and FNC. Both organizations are joining forces to bring together the world’s top coffee professionals and competitors in one of the globe’s most dynamic coffee-producing nations. Their partnership recently deepened through a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) focused on integrating the SCA’s Coffee Value Assessment methodology into the FNC’s national coffee quality processes.

A Return to Latin America’s Coffee Heartland

World of Coffee Bogotá 2027 follows World of Coffee Panama 2026, which will feature the World Barista Championship. Bogotá’s selection continues the SCA’s commitment to hosting world-class coffee events in producing countries, strengthening ties between origin and the global specialty coffee community.

The 2027 edition will also celebrate the return of a World Coffee Championship to Colombia after sixteen years — the last being the 2011 World Barista Championship held in Bogotá. This return underscores Colombia’s enduring importance to the global coffee industry and its role as a leader in quality, innovation, and sustainability.

A Global Gathering for Coffee Professionals

World of Coffee Bogotá 2027 will welcome exhibitors, sponsors, and attendees from every segment of the specialty coffee value chain. Visitors will be able to experience live World Brewers Cup performances, attend professional sessions, and engage with leading experts in coffee innovation and trade.

World of Coffee and World Brewers Cup to Take Place in Bogotá, Colombia in 2027

Additional details regarding exhibitor registration, speaking opportunities, and program highlights will be released in the coming months on the official SCA and World Coffee Championships platforms.

World of Coffee Dubai to Host the 2026 Cezve/Ibrik Championship

Posted on by Qahwa World

Dubai – Qahwa World

The Specialty Coffee Association (SCA) has officially announced that World of Coffee Dubai 2026 will host the 2026 Cezve/Ibrik Championship (CIC)—marking the first stage of the 2026 World Coffee Championships (WCC) season.
The competition will take place January 18–20, 2026 at the Dubai World Trade Centre, coinciding with what is expected to be the largest edition of World of Coffee Dubai to date.

Produced by DXB Live in collaboration with the SCA UAE Chapter, World of Coffee Dubai has rapidly become the Middle East’s leading coffee trade event since its launch in 2022. The show continues to unite producers, roasters, manufacturers, and coffee professionals from around the globe — highlighting Dubai’s growing role as a bridge between coffee cultures of the East and the West.

The Cezve/Ibrik Championship pays homage to one of the world’s oldest brewing traditions. The cezve, also known as an ibrik, is a small long-handled pot traditionally made from copper, brass, or ceramic, used for centuries across Eastern Europe, the Middle East, and North Africa. Competitors in this event bring cultural expression and personal artistry to their performances, reimagining this ancient brewing method in a modern competitive setting.

Hosting this championship in Dubai is especially symbolic. The city’s deep cultural ties to traditional coffee preparation, combined with its reputation as a global hub for innovation and trade, make it a fitting venue for a competition that blends heritage with creativity.

Khalid Al Mulla, National Coordinator of the UAE Coffee Championships, stated: “We are truly honored to welcome the Cezve/Ibrik Championship to Dubai. This event represents more than competition — it’s a celebration of tradition, craftsmanship, and cultural connection. Bringing it to the UAE reinforces Dubai’s position as a bridge between the coffee cultures of the East and the West.”

The SCA has also released the 2026 CIC Rules and Regulations, including updated rules documents, summaries of changes, scoresheets, and an appeals form, all available at wcc.coffee/rules-regulations
.

The World Coffee Championships serve as a platform for global coffee professionals to showcase their craft, share knowledge, and inspire future generations of baristas, brewers, tasters, and roasters. Dubai’s inclusion as the first host city of the 2026 season further strengthens its status as a world-class coffee destination.

2026 World Coffee Championships Calendar

Dubai World Coffee Championships
January 18–20, 2026 | World of Coffee Dubai, Dubai World Trade Centre, UAE
Featuring the Cezve/Ibrik Championship

San Diego World Coffee Championships
April 10–12, 2026 | World of Coffee San Diego, USA
Featuring the World Latte Art Championship

Bangkok World Coffee Championships
May 7–9, 2026 | World of Coffee Bangkok, Thailand
Featuring the World Cup Tasters Championship

Brussels World Coffee Championships
June 25–27, 2026 | World of Coffee Brussels, Belgium
Featuring the World Brewers Cup, World Coffee Roasting Championship, and World Coffee in Good Spirits Championship

Panama City World Coffee Championships
October 22–25, 2026 | World of Coffee Panama, Panama Convention Center
Featuring the World Barista Championship