The World Barista Championship (WBC) is the current premier barista competition, with the winners of each national barista championship (or an otherwise appointed competitor) competing for the world title. Competitors prepare and serve 12 coffee beverages in 15 mins - four espresso, four cappuccino, and four signature drinks (no alcohol allowed) for four sensory judges. There are two rounds of judging, the first a preliminary round and the second a finals round, featuring the top six competitors. The Tokyo 2007 WBC was the first to be held outside Europe or the U.S., and marked a growing trend for increased coffee consumption in Asia.
The barista competition format was created in Norway, and the WBC was dominated in its early years by Scandinavian baristas. It is owned and organized jointly by the Specialty Coffee Association of America (SCAA) and the Speciality Coffee Association of Europe (SCAE).
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