Earlier this year, the World Barista Championship (WBC) made headlines in more ways than one. After a 30-month hiatus due to the Covid-19 pandemic, it returned to the stage at HostMilano in late October 2021.
However, as well as this, the competition saw Diego Campos (Colombia) crowned World Champion as well as Martin Shabaya (Kenya) making the top 6. Campos was the third winner from a coffee-producing country in the last 20 years.The World Barista Championship focuses on promoting excellence in coffee, advancing the barista profession, and engaging a worldwide audience by hosting an annual championship event. This serves as the culmination of local and regional events around the globe.
The top six competitors at WBC 2021 were:
1. Diego Campos, Colombia
2. Andrea Allen, United States
3. Hugh Kelly, Australia
4. Emi Fukahori, Switzerland
5. Martin Shabaya, Kenya
6. Wojciech Tysler, Ireland
Two of the six winners hailed from coffee producing countries. For them, the victory represented a personal triumph, as well as serving as a milestone for their countries’ coffee sectors.
