News

Panama City, Panama · 22–25 Oct 2026

World Barista Championship 2026

51 national champions, one stage in Panama City, 22–25 October — who competes for the title of World Barista Champion, and the cafés, roasters and farms they represent.

News ·

What it is

The World Barista Championship is the top title in espresso. Once a year the national champions of more than fifty countries meet on one stage, and each has fifteen minutes to serve a panel of judges four espressos, four milk drinks and four signature drinks of their own invention.

2026 is the 26th edition, and the first in Central America. It is the headline of the first World of Coffee Panama, at the Panama Convention Center in Panama City, 22–25 October — in the country that made the Geisha variety famous.

The championship is run by World Coffee Championships, the competition arm of the Specialty Coffee Association. A barista earns a place by winning their country's national championship.

How it works

Thu 22 Oct
Round one, day one — 30 baristas from 9:00 to 17:30
Fri 23 Oct
Round one, day two — 21 baristas; the 16 semi-finalists are named at 16:45
Sat 24 Oct
Semi-final, 16 baristas from 9:52 to 15:52; the six finalists are named at 16:45
Sun 25 Oct
The final from 10:00; the awards at 16:30
Times
All in Panama time, UTC−5

Each routine is fifteen minutes on stage after fifteen minutes of set-up. Judges score taste, cleanliness, creativity, technical skill and presentation. The top fifteen scores of round one, plus one wildcard, go to the semi-final; the top six of the semi-final go to the final.

Everyone works on the same equipment: a STORM Tempesta espresso machine, Ceado grinders, Weber Workshops baskets and BWT water.

Watch it

Every routine streams free, live and on replay, on the World Coffee Championships YouTube channel — no sign-up. On social media the event runs under #PanamaWBC.

Who competes

51

In the order they take the stage, with the café, roaster or farm each one represents — linked where it is on Good Cup. Times are local, in Panama City. Photos: World Coffee Championships.

Thu 22 Oct

  1. 9:07
    Jak Michael RyanUnited States

    Represents Proud Mary Coffee

    US Barista Champion 2026.

    @jakmichaelryan on Instagram ↗
  2. 9:17
    Taha YoussefEgypt

    Competes independently

    Competed at the World Brewers Cup 2025.

    @Tahamahmoud798 on Instagram ↗
  3. 9:27
    Klay WenChinese Taipei

    Represents Rebirth Coffee Co.

    Taiwan Barista Champion 2025, runner-up in 2024.

  4. 9:57
    Michalis KatsiavosGreece

    Represents Seven Steps Coffee Roasters

    Greek Barista Champion 2018 and 2026. Fourth in the world final in 2018 — and the founder of Seven Steps.

    @michaliskatsiavos on Instagram ↗
  5. 10:07
    Bella Thu PhamVietnam

    Represents HQJ Coffee School

    Vietnam Barista Champion 2023 and 2025; a world semi-finalist in 2024. Also a pianist.

    @bellathupham on Instagram ↗
  6. 10:17
    Hojat MousaviDenmark

    Represents Time. / Bugan

    Danish Barista Champion 2026, runner-up in 2025.

    @Hojatdk on Instagram ↗
  7. 10:47
    Daniel VazBrazil

    Represents Five Roasters

    Brazilian Barista Champion, a barista at Coffee Five in Rio de Janeiro. Competed at the world championship in 2024.

    @daniel_vaz on Instagram ↗
  8. 10:57
    Pan WeiChinaFinalist

    Represents Parking Coffee

    Twice China's barista champion; runs Parking Coffee and his own roastery in Hangzhou.

    @ruffianpan2 on Instagram ↗
  9. 11:07
    Gabrel TanAustraliaFinalist

    Represents Veneziano Coffee Roasters

    Australian Barista Champion 2026 after finishing second in 2022, 2024 and 2025. Australia has won the world title four times, last in 2025.

    @gabrel.tan on Instagram ↗
  10. 11:37
    Jane KawinnartThailandFinalist

    Represents Fika & Co.

    Co-founder of Fika & Co. in Bangkok; her second World Barista Championship after 2023.

    @jn_ on Instagram ↗
  11. 11:47
    Janer PérezColombia

    Represents Juan Valdez – Café de Colombia

    Colombian Barista Champion 2025.

    @janer.pr on Instagram ↗
  12. 11:57
    Vladimir PetrinaCzech Republic

    Represents Mazelab

    Czech Barista Champion 2026; Czech Latte Art Champion 2024.

    @vladimirpetrina_ on Instagram ↗
  13. 12:27
    Shing WinMalaysiaFinalist

    Represents One Half Coffee Roastery

    Malaysian Barista Champion 2025.

    @shing_win on Instagram ↗
  14. 12:37
    Junior Vargas OteroAustria

    Competes independently

    Austrian Barista Champion 2026.

    @jr.coffeeman on Instagram ↗
  15. 12:47
    Benjamin RoquePanamaSemi-finalist

    Represents Altieri Specialty Coffee

    • Altieri · Los Naranjos · Excellent

    The host country's champion — competing at home.

    @Benjamin_saith17 on Instagram ↗
  16. 13:17
    Ieva IvonėLithuania

    Represents Taste Map Coffee Roasters

    and 2 more cafés

    Lithuanian Barista Champion 2026; Lithuanian Latte Art Champion 2013, and 14th in the world that year.

    @ieva_ivone on Instagram ↗
  17. 13:27
    Brice RobinFrance

    Represents Polygone

    French Barista Champion 2023, 2024 and 2026; a world semi-finalist in 2023.

    @Brice_robin_ on Instagram ↗
  18. 13:37
    Darwin ValenzuelaCosta Rica

    Represents Encafeinados Micro-tostadores

    Costa Rican Barista Champion 2026.

    @Darwinvlz7 on Instagram ↗
  19. 14:07
    Frederick RubenUnited Arab EmiratesFinalist

    Represents Benchmark Coffee

    The UAE's barista champion 2026; works at Benchmark Coffee in Sharjah.

    @rubenadam on Instagram ↗
  20. 14:17
    Nikola SunkoIrelandSemi-finalist

    Represents Bell Lane Coffee

    Thirteen years in coffee, competing since 2025.

    @nikolasunko on Instagram ↗
  21. 14:27
    Mostafa MamdouhEgypt

    Represents 20grams

    Competed at the world championship in 2024.

    @mostafa_mamdouheg on Instagram ↗
  22. 14:57
    Suhas DwarakanathIndia

    Represents Benki Brewing Tools

    Indian Barista Champion 2025 and a world semi-finalist the same year.

    @suhasdwaraka on Instagram ↗
  23. 15:07
    Nicolas VargasBoliviaSemi-finalist

    Represents Alquimia Specialty Coffee Shop

    • Alquimia · Santa Cruz de la Sierra · Excellent

    Bolivian Barista Champion 2025 and a co-founder of Alquimia in Santa Cruz de la Sierra.

    @barista_nicovaroch on Instagram ↗
  24. 15:17
    Erlend Wessel-BergNorway

    Competes independently

    Won both Norway's Barista Championship and its Brewers Cup in 2026; Barista Champion in 2025 and Brewers Cup Champion in 2019 too.

    @Erlendwessel on Instagram ↗
  25. 15:47
    Marco ArevaloVenezuela

    Represents Bocanada Café

    Head barista, quality analyst and roaster at Bocanada Café, a Venezuelan coffee brand that sells its own whole-bean, ground and capsule coffee — it keeps no café of its own that we could find; thirteen years a barista.

    @marcocaturro on Instagram ↗
  26. 15:57
    Mathieu TheisSwitzerland

    Represents MAME

    • MAME · Zurich · Excellent
    • MAME · Zurich · Excellent
    • MAME · Geneva · Excellent
    • Roaster MAME · World-class roaster
    and 3 more cafés

    Swiss Barista Champion 2016, 2018, 2019 and 2026; third in the 2018 world final, sixth in 2019, and a world semi-finalist in 2024.

    @mathieutheis on Instagram ↗
  27. 16:07
    Paulo Melendez Sch.Guatemala

    Represents Finca El Zapote

    Guatemalan Barista Champion 2022 and 2026; competed at the world championship in 2023.

    @paulo_melsch on Instagram ↗
  28. 16:37
    Xander VenterSouth Africa

    Represents Robin Chat Coffee Roastery

    South African Barista Champion 2026.

    @_xander_venter_ on Instagram ↗
  29. 16:47
    Oscar ZuletaEl Salvador

    Represents Alquimia Coffee

    El Salvador Barista Champion 2024, third in 2023; competed at the world championship in 2025.

    @oscar_zuleta2117 on Instagram ↗
  30. 16:57
    Daria BilaUnited Kingdom

    Represents Formative Coffee

    General manager of Formative Coffee in London — and her first competition.

    @dariabilaa on Instagram ↗

Fri 23 Oct

  1. 9:52
    Oleksandr FedorovUkraine

    Represents Coffeeton

    Ukrainian Barista Champion 2026; head of quality at Coffeeton, the green-coffee importer he works for.

    @sshapsterr on Instagram ↗
  2. 10:02
    Pedro RicardoChile

    Represents Black Drop Coffee

    and 2 more cafés

    Competed at the world championship in 2024.

    @pedro_ricard0 on Instagram ↗
  3. 10:12
    CP WongHong Kong SARSemi-finalist

    Represents Knockbox Coffee Company

    and 3 more cafés

    Third at the Hong Kong Barista Championship 2024.

    @cpwong.1225 on Instagram ↗
  4. 10:42
    Felix HohlmannGermany

    Represents Kaffeemacher

    German Barista Champion 2024 and 2026; runner-up in Switzerland in 2015 and Swiss AeroPress Champion 2016; competed at the world championship in 2024.

    @felixkaffeemacher on Instagram ↗
  5. 10:52
    Federico PinnaItalySemi-finalist

    Represents Urban Cafe – Bugan Coffee Lab

    Italian Barista Champion 2026 and a world semi-finalist in 2024; owner and head barista of Urban Cafe in Treviglio.

    @_federicopinna on Instagram ↗
  6. 11:02
    Andika NugrahaIndonesia

    Represents Curators Coffee Company

    Indonesian Barista Champion 2026. Indonesia's Mikael Jasin won the world title in 2024.

    @andikanugrahaa on Instagram ↗
  7. 11:32
    Siebe StinisNetherlands

    Represents Friedhats

    • FUKU · Amsterdam · Outstanding
    • Roaster Friedhats · World-class roaster

    Dutch Barista Champion 2026; second at the Dutch Brewers Cup 2024.

    @sieboss on Instagram ↗
  8. 11:42
    Anas AdamsSaudi Arabia

    Represents Brew92

    Saudi Barista Champion 2026 — «Anas Adams of BRE92 Café» in the national championship organiser's words; the World Coffee Championships has not published his profile yet.

  9. 11:52
    Juan ZambranoEcuador

    Represents Bombons Coffee Shops

    and 3 more cafés

    Ecuador's barista champion 2026 and head roaster of Bombons Coffee Shop.

    @juanpi_barista on Instagram ↗
  10. 12:22
    Andrés PaparoniSpain

    Represents Nomad Coffee

    Spanish Barista Champion 2026.

    @andres.paparoni on Instagram ↗
  11. 12:32
    Donghwan GuSouth Korea

    Represents CBSC International

    Korean Barista Champion 2023 and a world semi-finalist that year.

    @donghwan999 on Instagram ↗
  12. 12:42
    Edilberto ZapataMexicoSemi-finalist

    Represents Casa Cardinal / Ensambles

    Mexican Barista Champion 2025.

    @shakzapata on Instagram ↗
  13. 13:12
    Erhan DizbayTurkey

    Represents Kaizen Specialty Coffee

    Won both Turkey's Barista and Cup Tasters championships in 2026.

    @erhandizbay.coffee on Instagram ↗
  14. 13:22
    Jervis TanSingaporeSemi-finalist

    Represents Oaks Coffee Roasters

    Singapore Barista Champion 2025; five-time Singapore Latte Art Champion and a World Latte Art finalist in 2017 and 2023, sixth the second time.

    @baristartist on Instagram ↗
  15. 13:32
    Cristi OlteanRomania

    Represents Meron Roastery

    and 19 more cafés

    Romanian Barista Champion three years running (2024–2026); his third world championship.

    @cristioltean13 on Instagram ↗
  16. 14:02
    Keisuke HonmaJapanSemi-finalist

    Represents Saza Coffee

    Japan Barista Champion 2025, runner-up in 2016 and 2017.

    @keisuke_honma_yma on Instagram ↗
  17. 14:12
    Kennedy OwinoKenya

    Represents Amka Café / Mawimbi Seafood Restaurant

    Kenyan Barista Champion 2026.

    @KennedyOwino_ on Instagram ↗
  18. 14:22
    Jill HoffCanadaFinalist

    Represents Monogram Coffee

    and 1 more café

    Canadian Barista Champion 2020 and 2026, Canadian AeroPress Champion 2016, and a world semi-finalist in 2021.

    @jillhoff on Instagram ↗
  19. 14:52
    Michał CiupińskiPolandSemi-finalist

    Represents Błysk Espresso Bar

    Polish Barista Champion 2025; eighth in the world at Coffee in Good Spirits in 2025 and 2026.

    @michalciupinski on Instagram ↗
  20. 15:02
    Chiara NicoliniPeruSemi-finalist

    Represents Punto Café

    Peruvian Barista Champion 2025. She represented Spain at the 2007 world championship in Tokyo and is back 19 years later, coached by 2015 champion Saša Šestić.

    @chiaranico_ on Instagram ↗
  21. 15:12
    Josh PeacockeAotearoa New Zealand

    Represents Mojo Coffee

    and 16 more cafés

    Runner-up at New Zealand's Barista Championship 2025.

    @peacockejosh on Instagram ↗

A short history

The first World Barista Championship was held in Monte Carlo in 2000, with baristas from 14 countries; Norway's Robert Thoresen won it. The Nordic countries took six of the first seven titles.

Australia and Denmark have won it most often, four times each. Latin America has four champions: Alejandro Méndez of El Salvador (2011), Raúl Rodas of Guatemala (2012), Diego Campos of Colombia (2021) and Boram Um of Brazil (2023). The 2020 championship was not held.

Several of this year's competitors have been close before: Greece's Michalis Katsiavos was fourth in the 2018 final; Switzerland's Mathieu Theis, Italy's Federico Pinna and Vietnam's Bella Thu Pham reached the 2024 semi-final; India's Suhas Dwarakanath the 2025 one.

2025
Jack Simpson · Australia · won in Milan
2024
Mikael Jasin · Indonesia · won in Busan
2023
Boram Um · Brazil · won in Athens
2022
Anthony Douglas · Australia · won in Melbourne
2021
Diego Campos · Colombia · won in Milan
2019
Jooyeon Jeon · South Korea · won in Boston
2018
Agnieszka Rojewska · Poland · won in Amsterdam
2017
Dale Harris · United Kingdom · won in Seoul
2016
Berg Wu · Taiwan · won in Dublin
2015
Saša Šestić · Australia · won in Seattle
2014
Hidenori Izaki · Japan · won in Rimini
2013
Pete Licata · United States · won in Melbourne
2012
Raúl Rodas · Guatemala · won in Vienna
2011
Alejandro Méndez · El Salvador · won in Bogotá
2010
Michael Phillips · United States · won in London
2009
Gwilym Davies · United Kingdom · won in Atlanta
2008
Stephen Morrissey · Ireland · won in Copenhagen
2007
James Hoffmann · United Kingdom · won in Tokyo
2006
Klaus Thomsen · Denmark · won in Bern
2005
Troels Overdal Poulsen · Denmark · won in Seattle
2004
Tim Wendelboe · Norway · won in Trieste
2003
Paul Bassett · Australia · won in Boston
2002
Frits Storm · Denmark · won in Oslo
2001
Martin Hildebrandt · Denmark · won in Miami
2000
Robert Thoresen · Norway · won in Monte Carlo

Updates

3
  1. Finalists named · Sun 25 OctSix of the 51 are through to today's final — marked on the line-upThe final runs from 10:22 to 15:37 Panama time on Sunday 25 October; the champion is named at 16:45.
  2. Semi-finalists named · Sat 24 Oct16 of the 51 baristas are through to today's semi-final — marked on the line-upThe semi-final runs from 9:52 to 15:52 Panama time on Saturday 24 October; the six finalists are named at 16:45.
  3. Happening this week · Wed 21 OctRead who competes for the title of World Barista Champion — and the cafés, roasters and farms they representRound one starts Thursday 22 October at 9:00 Panama time. The semi-finalists are named on Friday, the finalists on Saturday, the champion on Sunday — each one here as it happens.

Links

The line-up, schedule and what each competitor represents are the organiser’s; the titles beside them are from Good Cup’s championship records.