Key takeaways

• Competitions are synonymous with excellence and innovation in specialty espresso, together with unique varieties and cutting-edge gear.
• As they’ve turn out to be extra prestigious, many competitions have adopted extra formal guidelines and rules.
• Standardised espresso and gear have additionally turn out to be extra widespread, making barista expertise the true differentiator.
• Competitions are rekindling the thrill that originally drew members to drive true creativity.

During the last decade, competitions have developed from area of interest occasions into main platforms that showcase the slicing fringe of specialty espresso.

From groundbreaking brewing strategies to state-of-the-art gear, they’re the place baristas check and refine improvements earlier than they attain cafés worldwide.

As competitions turn out to be extra respected, the espresso {industry} faces a important query: How can we preserve their status whereas additionally preserving the inventive spirit that first impressed them?

Valentina Dalla Corte, Chief of Workers and Industrial Excellence at Dalla Corte, explains how bettering accessibility is the simplest technique to permit rivals to be each inventive and progressive.

You might also like our article on how espresso competitions have modified lately.

Espresso competitions undeniably drive innovation

For a lot of, competitions characterize the head of specialty espresso. 

“They’re elementary in elevating high quality requirements and driving innovation throughout the {industry},” explains Valentina, the Chief of Workers and Industrial Excellence at premium espresso gear producer Dalla Corte.

The rising status of those occasions pushes members to uphold the very best requirements of hospitality and low preparation. To face an opportunity at successful on this fiercely aggressive format, many practice for months, put money into coaches, or accomplice with gear manufacturers to develop customized instruments and devices.

The improvements seen at competitions even have a wider affect on specialty espresso. Weiss Distribution Method (WDT) instruments, as an example, which had been popularised via competitions, are actually utilized in specialty espresso outlets. These equipment permit baristas to eradicate channelling and enhance extraction consistency. 

Freeze-distilled milk is a well-liked approach that concentrates milk’s pure sweetness by eradicating water via freezing. It debuted at competitions earlier than being adopted by extra progressive cafés.

“Competitions create an area the place espresso professionals can experiment, share data, and each refine and redefine requirements,” Valentina explains. “This conjures up and accelerates the adoption of finest practices in cafés and barista coaching programmes.

“On this spirit, Dalla Corte helps a broad spectrum of competitors codecs. From long-established occasions just like the World Barista and Latte Artwork Championships, sustained by the Specialty Espresso Affiliation, to complementary platforms such because the World Espresso Championship (WEC), every one performs a definite function in advancing excellence and inventive expression throughout the {industry}.”

The broader espresso sector advantages from innovation at competitions in a number of methods. Not solely do these instruments and practices elevate high quality requirements extra broadly, however in addition they assist rework the once-overlooked function of the barista right into a recognised, revered career.

The more and more formal nature of competitions has additionally performed a key half on this. Organisers have adopted tighter guidelines, standardised judging standards, and carried out strict closing dates that push members to carry out at their finest.

Though the construction of competitions is important for credibility, it additionally means organisers should prioritise methods to help creativity and innovation.

How competitions can encourage extra creativity

Specialty espresso is an {industry} that thrives on passionate baristas, roasters, café house owners, producers, and customers. In flip, it’s important that competitions – the place we regularly see industry-leading innovation – serve a wider goal.

Over the previous couple of years, extra occasion organisers have recognised this want.

“As a producer, we see competitions as ‘residing laboratories’: they speed up studying, elevate the bar for skilled requirements, and encourage clear data sharing,” Valentina says. “With this goal, Dalla Corte proudly sponsors many competitions, each conventional and complementary codecs, just like the WEC.

“Supporting each displays our perception that range in competitors constructions enriches the specialty espresso neighborhood. Each format contributes to elevating requirements and provoking innovation.”

The WEC is a head-to-head competitors that enhances present codecs, as all members use the identical espresso and gear.

“This method emphasises extraction approach and repeatability, making the barista the one altering variable and giving them the possibility to showcase their capacity and creativity,” Valentina explains.

The fourth version was held in Milan, Italy, the place Aga Muhammed positioned first and received €3,000. Rivals should use the identical water, espresso (together with processing technique and roast profile), espresso machine, and grinder. Members could then modify as many extraction variables as doable to attempt to pull the successful shot.

“By design, this complementary format brings the barista’s experience to the forefront, facilitating a deeper understanding of extraction, calibrated palate improvement, and the power to fine-tune brewing parameters, whereas nonetheless leaving ample room for inventive espresso recipes,” Valentina explains.

The winners’ closing recipe, together with the espresso and gear merchandise used, can also be printed, serving to make high-quality espresso accessible to extra individuals.

Organisers must stability status and accessibility

Creating a contest that feels each prestigious and inclusive requires a cautious stability. The important thing lies in decreasing boundaries to entry whereas upholding requirements that prioritise espresso excellence.

For the WEC, this stability is achieved via a transparent construction. “Status is constructed via the annual world occasion, whereas inclusivity is fostered by growing nationwide pathways that permit extra baristas to take part and progress towards the worldwide stage,” Valentina explains.

Every barista approaches the identical espresso in another way, making delicate changes to circulate fee, temperature, and time that showcase their in-depth understanding of extraction and flavour.

On the 2025 WEC, baristas used the Dalla Corte Zero Plus, outfitted with patented Digital Move Regulation (DFR) know-how. This function offers baristas exact management over circulate profiling, unlocking a wider spectrum of flavours and aromas even when working with the identical espresso. The machine was formally launched at World of Espresso Dubai 2026, the place Dalla Corte additionally introduced the renewed Icon with Steam Maestro know-how, in addition to the Zero Plus Basic, Zero Plus Barista, Studio, and Mina machines.

“DFR permits baristas to profile circulate in distinct phases, creating alternatives to discover complexity and nuance,” Valentina provides.

Supporting the espresso machine had been Dalla Corte’s DC One and DC Two on-demand grinders. Each have 65mm flat burrs and dispense espresso at 4 grams per second with 0.01mm adjustment functionality. This stage of management ensures consistency throughout rounds and allows rivals to fine-tune their recipes.

Wanting forward, the subsequent version will introduce a member hub and a web-enabled app to offer clearer visibility on judging and scoring. These technological enhancements will supply extra goal, actionable suggestions, serving to baristas higher perceive learn how to enhance their recipes.

Espresso competitions proceed to push the boundaries of what’s doable with espresso. Nonetheless, the problem is to take care of these occasions as engines of innovation whereas guaranteeing they entice new expertise.

Via continued evolution and neighborhood help, competitions will stay important areas the place the specialty espresso {industry} exams concepts, celebrates talent, and advances understanding of extraction.

Loved this? Then learn our article on how circulate profiling will help management extraction.

Photograph credit: Dalla Corte

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