Australian Coffee Championships

The Australian Coffee Roasting Championship (WCRC) recognises excellence in coffee roasting, evaluating competitors on their coffee evaluation, preparation, blending, and roasting skills. In this 3-stage event, competitors are evaluated on their performance evaluating the quality of green coffee (coffee grading), developing a roasting profile that best accentuates the desirable characteristics of that coffee, and on the ultimate cup quality of coffees roasted.

Certified Judges score competitors on dozens of criteria covering pre-roasting preparation and production roasting skills.

The next ACRC has just been announced with limited spots available. Registration closes on October 16 at 5 PM.  Preliminary green coffee will be sent out on October 30, and all roasted submissions need to be returned to Melbourne by COB December 5th.  

Judging will take place on December 7-8, with the top 6 progressing to the finals. The finals of the Australian Roasting Championship will be held at Criteria Coffee, Port Melbourne, on February 1-2nd, 2025.

The Australian Cup Tasters Championship awards the professional coffee cupper who demonstrates speed, skill, and accuracy in distinguishing the taste differences in specialty coffees.

Coffees of the world have many distinct taste characteristics and in this competition format the objective is for the cupper to discriminate between the different coffees. Three cups are placed in a triangle, with 2 cups being identical coffees and one cup being a different coffee. Using skills of smell, taste, attention and experience, the cupper will identify the odd cup in the triangle as quickly as they can. A total of 8 triangles are placed in each round. The top 8 competitors with the most correct answers and the fastest time proceed to the next Semi-Finals round. Then the top 4 will compete again in the Finals round to determine the next Australian Cup Tasters Champion.

More details to be announced closer to the event.

The Australian Coffee in Good Spirits Championship promotes innovative beverage recipes that showcase coffee and spirits in a competition format. This competition highlights the barista/barkeeper’s mixology skills in a setting where coffee and alcohol go perfectly together. From the traditional Irish Coffee (with whiskey and coffee), to unique cocktail combinations.
The preliminary round takes place at both the Spirit Bar and on the main competition stage. At the Spirit Bar, competitors produce two coffee and alcohol-based drinks, created using a randomly selected type of alcohol and/or ingredients. On the main stage, competitors produce four drinks—two identical hot/warm coffee and alcohol-based drinks, and two identical cold coffee and alcohol-based drinks. The six competitors with the highest preliminary round scores will compete in the final round.

The final round requires competitors to produce two Irish Coffees and two coffee-and-alcohol-based designer drinks. The highest-scoring final round competitor will be named the Australian Coffee in Good Spirits Champion.

More details to be announced closer to the event.

The Australian Barista Championship proudly celebrates the artistry of coffee excellence and significantly elevates the barista profession on a global scale. Each year talented champions engage in this prestigious competition, where they meticulously craft four espressos, four milk-based drinks, and four unique signature beverages during a highly time-sensitive 15-minute performance. Their skills are rigorously judged based on key criteria that include taste, cleanliness, creativity, technical proficiency, and overall presentation.

A panel of Certified Judges evaluates each performance with keen attention to these important aspects. From the initial round, the top 12 competitors, advance to the semifinals, and the top six from that stage earn the opportunity to compete in the finals, all striving for the esteemed title of Australian Barista Champion!

More details to be announced closer to the event.

The Australian Brewers Cup (WBrC) is a coffee brewing competition designed to showcase the craft and skill of manual filter coffee brewing.

There are two services in this competition: open and compulsory. For the compulsory service, competitors craft three beverages from the same whole bean provided to them by the competition organizers.  These coffees are evaluated by the judges on a standardised numerical scale based on sensory elements such as aroma, flavor, body, balance, and acidity. In the open service, competitor’s creativity is on stage. They can choose their favorite whole bean coffee from the available options and prepare a beverage along with a ten-minute presentation. The competitor’s presentation can include elements such as origin of the bean, preparation method, or tasting notes. A total dissolved solids (TDS) measurement is also taken for each beverage to ensure a maximum TDS of less than or equal to 2% (20,000 parts per million). 

More details to be announced closer to the event.

The Australian Latte Art Championship highlights artistic expression in a competition that challenges the barista in an on-demand performance. Baristas are judged based on visual attributes, creativity, identical patterns in the pairs, contrast in patterns, and overall performance.
For the preliminary round of the championship, competitors have eight minutes to create two identical free-pour lattes and two identical designer pattern lattes (which allow etching and decoration).

2024 rules changes introduced a Semi-Final round, which includes the Art Bar and the stage component. The Art Bar is a chance for the audience to get up close and see some eye-catching designs, with competitors producing one latte pattern in five minutes. On the main stage, competitors produce six beverages in 10 minutes – two sets of matching free-pour lattes and 2 matching free-pour macchiatos.

The top six semi-finals competitors qualify for the final round, where competitors make two sets of matching sets of free-pour latte patterns, and two matching designer pattern lattes. The top-scoring competitor in the final round is declared the Australian Latte Art Champion.

More details to be announced closer to the event.