The Specialty Coffee Association (SCA) has announced that the 2025 World Barista Championship (WBC), the industry’s premier competitive coffee event, will take place at HostMilano from 17 to 21 October 2025.
The WBC returns to Fiera Milano (Rho), Milan, after last being hosted at HostMilano in 2021. HostMilano exhibition is the global biannual epicenter for the Horeca and Food Service industry, offering a platform for innovation, networking, and the latest trends in hospitality.
“Given it’s scale and importance, HostMilano is the perfect location to hold the World Barista Championship” says Yannis Apostolopoulos, CEO of the SCA. “The Fiera Milano team’s commitment to excellence aligns perfectly with our mission to elevate the barista profession and showcase the finest talents on a global stage. As we gather in this iconic city, we not only celebrate the art of coffee-making but also pay homage to the timeless tradition that continues to inspire coffee lovers worldwide.”
Since the introduction of caffè espresso at the 1906 Milan International World’s Fair, the city has remained a beacon of coffee craftsmanship and innovation, earning its status as ‘the Espresso Capital of the world’. Embracing Milan’s storied coffee culture, the 2025 WBC will serve as a grand celebration of the beverage that unites coffee enthusiasts worldwide.
“We are proud and delighted to welcome the SCA to Host 2025,” says Simona Greco, Fiera Milano SpA Owned Exhibitions Director. “This important partnership consolidates HostMilano as a global reference for the entire coffee world and testifies to Milan’s role as one of the great coffee capitals of the world.”
The WBC focuses on promoting excellence in coffee and advancing the barista profession, with baristas demonstrating their expertise in crafting innovative espresso-based drinks across the espresso, milk, and signature beverage courses.
Certified judges evaluate each 15-minute performance based on a range of technical and sensory attributes. Some of the cutting-edge approaches and tools used on the WBC stage can have extensive and enduring impacts on the industry. This highly competitive championship attracts the finest baristas from more than 50 Competition Bodies who will present their skills, creativity, and coffee mastery in a bid to claim the coveted title of World Barista Champion. The WBC is one of seven World Coffee Championships — annual skills-based competitions produced by the SCA, and hosted at some of the most important global coffee trade shows.
2022-2025 Qualified Sponsors supporting next year’s WBC include Espresso Machine Sponsor Barista Attitude; and Grinder Sponsor Victoria Arduino.
For more information about the WBC and HOSTMilano 2025, visit wcc.coffee and host.fieramilano.it
