STORY

A competition for coffee skills

Winner of the 2022 WBC (World Barista Championship). Barista Ishitani took 4th place.

The most well-known competition for coffee skills is the barista competition. I'm sure many of you have seen baristas giving gorgeous presentations.
On the other hand, competitions in which roasting techniques are competed have become popular in recent years.

Just as roaster Yoshiyuki Nakamura , who is participating in CROWD ROASTER , won the Japan tournament and earned the right to participate in the world tournament, winning second place in the world, barista Takayuki Ishitani also participated in the world tournament as a representative of Japan. There are also tournaments where if you win the Japanese tournament, you can qualify for the world tournament, as you did when you won 4th place.
Here I would like to summarize some of the major competitions.

Various tournaments held in Japan

 
Currently, the largest global competition in the field of coffee is held at WCE (World Coffee Events). The competition is sponsored by the SCA (Specialty Coffee Association), which is a merger of European and American specialty coffee associations.
In order to participate in the tournament held here, players must win a domestic tournament in each country recognized by WCE.
Officially recognized competitions in Japan are those sponsored by the Specialty Coffee Association of Japan (SCAJ). The following eight competitions are held by SCAJ.
Most of these are held as selection events for representatives to WCE tournaments, but some are unique to Japan.

Barista <JBC>

The Japan Barista Championship is a competition that determines the top baristas who can earn the right to participate in the WBC (World Barista Championship). Provide three types of beverages to the judges within the time limit: espresso, milk beverage, and signature beverage. In addition to the taste, the uniqueness of the creative drink, the movement with the espresso machine, and the presentation are tested. Those who make it through the regional qualifying rounds will be able to participate in the final tournament, which is held once a year.

Latte art <JLAC>

The Japan Latte Art Championship started in 2009 as a competition with rules similar to the SCAE World Latte Art Championship (currently a competition sponsored by WCE) held in Europe, and the winner earns the right to participate in this world competition. do. The workmanship and performance of latte art, which provides free pour latte and designer latte within the time limit, will be evaluated.

Filter extraction <JBrC>

The Japan Brewers Cup is a competition that competes in manual extraction techniques such as paper drip, flannel drip, French press, and aeropress, and you can also win the right to participate in the world tournament WBrC (World Brewers Cup). In the ``Required Service,'' the taste will be evaluated using officially roasted beans, and in the ``Open Service,'' roasted beans brought in by contestants will be extracted and presented.

Cupping <JCTC>

The Japan Cup Tasters Championship is a competition for cupping techniques that also serves as a selection for representatives to the WCTC (World Cup Tasters Championship), which is a world tournament. A total of 8 questions are asked to guess one different coffee from three cups, one per minute, and the number of correct answers (if the number is the same, the one with the shortest time) wins.

Roasting <JCRC>

The Japan Coffee Roasting Championship is a competition for roasting techniques and is held according to the rules of the world championship WCRC (World Coffee Roasing Championship), with the winner gaining the right to participate in this competition. The process involves a step-by-step process of evaluating green beans, roasting samples, submitting a roast plan, and roasting the finished product. Participants are tested on their ability to evaluate green beans and roasted beans, and whether they achieved the roasted flavor as planned.

Coffee cocktail <JCIGSC>

The Japan Coffee in Good Spirits Championship is a competition for original coffee cocktails made by adding whiskey, spirits, etc. to coffee. Originally held by the European Specialty Coffee Association, it was decided to hold a tournament in Japan to select representatives. Compete with two Irish coffees and two hot or cold alcohol-based designer drinks made with coffee.
These are the tournaments that give you the right to participate in the WCE world championships. There is another event held at WCE, the World Jazz Beer Ibrik Championship (WCIC), which uses non-filtered brewing equipment found in the Middle East (this also applies to Turkish coffee), but the Japan tournament will not be held. Not yet.

Siphon extraction <JSC>

The Japan Siphonist Championship was born in 2003 as the siphon division of the Barista Championship, and changed to its current name in 2007. Participants competed in their skill to siphon two types of blended coffee, one of which was an original signature beverage using blended coffee. A competition unique to Japan, the World Siphonist Championship (WSC) has been held since 2009, sponsored by the Japan Association.

Hand drip <JHDC>

The Japan Hand Drip Championship is a competition for hand drip techniques, where participants compete in their extraction techniques for designated roasted beans. A tournament-style preliminary round will be held in each region, and the first place in each region will be able to perform in the final competition.

Tournaments sponsored by organizations other than SCAJ

 
Of course, there are many other competitions held in addition to those connected to WCE. One such event is the Free Pour Latte Art Grand Prix, sponsored by the Japan Latte Art Association.

This competition is a competition for free pouring techniques that do not require any equipment other than a milk pitcher. WCE competitions tend to include competitors' presentation skills as an evaluation item, but instead are competitions that purely evaluate latte art as a work of art.
Each competition has different evaluation criteria, so each competition has its own compatibility with the competitors. However, the objective remains the same: to conduct objective evaluations and aim to improve the level of technology in each field.

I want to support the challenges of the competitors in any competition.