Colombian Coffee Continues to Shine: Even WBC Champions Love It
The World Barista Championship (WBC) has long been a stage for showcasing some of the world’s most fascinating and distinctive coffees. In recent years, more and more competitors have chosen to feature lesser-known Arabica varieties — and even different coffee species — in their presentations. Interestingly, many of these coffees come from Colombia . While the country has always been famous for producing high-quality coffee, a growing number of Colombian farmers are now cultivating and exporting rare and forgotten varieties. These beans are increasingly being used by WBC competitors in their championship routines. Even many of the Geisha coffees used on the WBC stage in recent years have come from Colombia. So, why has Colombian coffee become such a favorite among competitors? And will this trend continue? To find out, we spoke with Elias Bayter of Forest Coffee , Maria Alejandra Escobar Huertas of Café Granja La Esperanza , and Daniele Ricci , runner-up at the 2023 WBC. ...