Roasting and Latte Art championships
An overview of the World Coffee Roasting Championship (WCRC) and the World Latte Art Championship (WLAC)—their formats, skills tested, and career relevance for coffee professionals.
- Coffee Basics Nerds
- 2 min read
Article 5 of 12 in Careers, Certifications & Competitions/
World Coffee Roasting Championship (WCRC)
- Format: Competitors are tested across three stages:
- Green Coffee Evaluation: Identify physical and sensory attributes of provided lots.
- Roast Planning: Develop a roast plan targeting desired sensory outcomes.
- Production Roasting: Execute roasts on professional equipment under time constraints.
- Judging:
- Evaluation of roast plans vs executed results.
- Sensory cupping of roasted coffees for flavor, balance, and consistency.
- Technical assessment of roast logging and accuracy.
- Skills Tested:
- Green coffee analysis.
- Roast profiling and curve control.
- Consistency, precision, and sensory alignment.
- Impact: Raises credibility of head roasters and roasting consultants; influences industry roasting practices.
World Latte Art Championship (WLAC)
- Format: Competitors present a combination of free-pour patterns and designer latte art (etched or decorated).
- Stages include preliminary heats, semi-finals, and finals.
- Competitors must produce multiple identical patterns under time pressure.
- Judging:
- Visual evaluation of symmetry, contrast, and definition.
- Creativity and difficulty of designs.
- Execution consistency across multiple cups.
- Skills Tested:
- Milk steaming and microfoam control.
- Pouring precision and hand stability.
- Artistic creativity and innovation.
- Impact: Elevates barista artistry, drives café culture trends, and strengthens brand aesthetics.
Career Benefits
- Professional Recognition: Competition success enhances career opportunities in roasting, training, and consulting.
- Skill Refinement: Competitors sharpen precision, creativity, and consistency.
- Brand Positioning: Cafés and roasteries gain visibility through champion staff.
- Community Contribution: Champions often mentor others and shape global standards.
Summary
The Roasting Championship develops and showcases mastery in profiling, consistency, and sensory skills, while the Latte Art Championship celebrates artistry, precision, and creativity. Both elevate competitors’ careers, push technical boundaries, and inspire broader industry innovation.