Again in Tokyo, again on stage, and again on prime—Vasilina Levina and Kirill Gorelov of Russia’s Surf Espresso made historical past at TBL Asia 2026 with a back-to-back win.

BY VASILEIA FANARIOTI
SENIOR ONLINE CORRESPONDENT

Photographs courtesy of The Barista League

What to know:

• Russia’s Vasilina Levina and Kirill Gorelov efficiently defended their title at The Barista League Asia 2026 in Tokyo final month, turning into repeat champions with a routine that balanced creativity, storytelling, and technical ability
• Regardless of each opponents lately taking up new roles as espresso store managers, they educated on weekends, fastidiously divided obligations, and designed their efficiency to maintain judges engaged all through—reflecting the identical guest-focused method they use of their cafés
• The champions praised The Barista League’s distinctive format for encouraging dwell interplay with judges, theatrical shows, and a welcoming ambiance, saying the expertise bolstered their ardour for espresso and the worldwide espresso neighborhood.

From Prague to Mexico Metropolis and now to Tokyo: The Barista League (TBL)’s 2026 international season made its Asian cease on June 11 at ADRIFT in Shimokitazawa, a neighbourhood venue in certainly one of Tokyo’s most creatively charged districts—and delivered what the brand new format guarantees: dwell decide interplay, performances constructed round idea and repair, and a room full of people that clearly didn’t need to be anyplace else. Six groups took the stage. When the scores got here in, the winners had been the identical as final yr: Vasilina Levina and Kirill Gorelov, representing Russia’s Surf Espresso.

Profitable as soon as at The Barista League is an achievement. Profitable twice in a row — in the identical metropolis, below a revised format, whereas each opponents had been concurrently navigating the calls for of managing a espresso store — is one thing else. We spoke with Vasilina and Kirill about what the sequel seemed like from the within, what a go to to a Tokyo temple has to do with competitors preparation, and what three phrases sum up a yr they won’t neglect.

Barista Journal: Congrats in your win! How did you put together for The Barista League competitors? Did you’ve gotten a method moving into?

Kirill: Thanks! Preparation for this season was very completely different from final yr. Each Vasilina and I had main adjustments in our work and careers. Our focus shifted. Final yr, we had been a part of Surf Espresso Excessive College, creating coaching supplies and conducting espresso abilities workshops. 

Now, every of us manages our personal espresso store. It’s a brand new path and a brand new chapter. Preparation fell throughout a difficult interval. We needed to stability studying new administration abilities with competitors coaching. Nevertheless it was enjoyable. We met on weekends and made them productive.

How did you goal to face out from the opposite groups, whether or not in method, type, or vitality?

Vasilina & Kirill: This yr, we determined to go along with a basic sequel method: Hold what labored and was memorable from final time, whereas bringing in one thing new to shock. From final yr—the tablecloth, recent flowers, and music that everybody already is aware of. What’s new? Full immersion for the judges by tangible items of our model, plus just a little hearth.

What makes The Barista League completely different from different competitions, and what did you’re keen on most about it?

Vasilina & Kirill: Regardless that this yr’s rules and total method had been extra polished and severe, the championship nonetheless managed to maintain a relaxed ambiance the place everybody—organizers, members, and visitors—really loved the method.

How did the crew dynamic work between the 2 of you? Any humorous or memorable moments from backstage?

Vasilina & Kirill: With competitors expertise behind us, our teamwork was extremely structured. Every of us had clearly assigned duties. Planning is certainly one of our strengths and one of the vital necessary elements of preparation—the Russian college of espresso championships taught us that. It’s how we do issues.

A second price sharing—it’s a bit private, however we predict it’s okay. Final yr, the day earlier than the championship, Vasilina and I visited Zojo-ji temple to hope for our victory, identical to Miki Suzuki did within the 2019 movie Baristas. This yr, we selected a special temple close to the venue and did the identical. We’re not used to asking for something, and we don’t often depend on issues we will’t management. However this turned a practice, and we method it with gratitude.

One distinctive facet of The Barista League is the dwell interplay with judges. How was that have for you, particularly with the ability to reply and interact in actual time?

Vasilina & Kirill: We deliberate our efficiency so that each second of the judges’ consideration was on both our speech or the drink preparation course of. This can be a fundamental precept we use in our espresso outlets: By no means go away visitors unattended. Our interplay with the judges was steady and sequential, creating one unified story for everybody.

Let’s rewind. What acquired every of you began in espresso, and what’s saved you hooked?

Kirill: Espresso is my first job. It began with a fundamental want for any form of work, however I acquired drawn into this trade. I turned genuinely , and now it’s been seven years. The most effective half? The additional I am going, the extra fascinating it will get. The wonderful individuals round me assist me fall increasingly in love with this craft. Alongside the best way, I’ve made great acquaintances and constant buddies.

Vasilina: I began working in espresso after I was 16. On the time, I used to be shy and introverted, however I used to be drawn to the welcoming neighborhood across the new Surf Espresso cafés and needed to be a part of it. Espresso turned out to be the right mixture of the 2 issues I beloved most: creativity and connecting with individuals. That’s what has saved me within the trade ever since.

Who or what evokes you most within the espresso trade proper now?

Kirill: Final yr, I found one thing really nice: travelling and doing visitor shifts in espresso outlets. To this point, we’ve achieved visitor shifts at Hitch Bicycle Membership in Seoul, Dotcom Espresso Asakusabashi in Tokyo, and Mountain Mover Espresso in Tokyo. I couldn’t even dream of standing behind a counter out of the country and serving visitors. It’s extremely inspiring, and I’m able to do it time and again. 

As for names within the trade that encourage me: Miki Suzuki will at all times be skilled primary for me. Jack Simpson—I’d like to log on with him. Yasuo Ishii—we each have a sports activities background in martial arts, so we’d positively have one thing to speak about. Emi Fukahori—she’s extremely enjoyable and welcoming. I’d like to do a visitor shift with every of them.

Vasilina: It’s arduous to call only one particular person as a result of I’m consistently assembly new individuals in espresso who encourage me. One of many first was Bohdan Prokopchuk—an lively barista competitor in Russia who now runs a number of espresso initiatives in Moscow. To me, he represents professionalism, craftsmanship, and integrity. Once I develop up, I need to be like him.

Trying past the competitors itself, how had been the months of preparation, and what was your total expertise working with the TBL crew and everybody concerned?

Vasilina & Kirill: Preparation was top-notch. The TBL crew took a whole lot of suggestions from final yr under consideration and labored arduous to make the occasion as snug as attainable for everybody. We stayed involved earlier than the championship, and throughout the occasion the crew and volunteers labored very easily. Thanks!

You’ve now received back-to-back. What does it really feel prefer to defend a title, and what do you assume it’s about your partnership that retains delivering at this degree?

Vasilina & Kirill: Once we stepped on stage this yr, we didn’t assume an excessive amount of about defending a title. It felt far more snug to be on the identical degree as the opposite members. We merely loved the method—and the truth that we had been again on this stunning nation with these great individuals. The back-to-back win merely confirms that we’re shifting in the best path.

When you needed to describe your Barista League expertise in three phrases, what would they be?

Vasilina & Kirill: Browsing. By no means. Alone.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Vasileia Fanarioti (she/her) is a senior on-line correspondent for Barista Journal and a contract copywriter and editor with a main deal with the espresso area of interest. She has additionally been a volunteer copywriter for the I’M NOT A BARISTA NPO, offering content material to assist educate individuals about baristas and their work.

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