If you’ve gone down the rabbit hole of specialty coffee, you might be wondering what comes next. For those eager to test their skills or fuel their competitive side, specialty coffee competitions are the perfect avenue. Brewers, baristas, and roasters from all backgrounds come together to showcase their craft in different areas, whether it’s roasting, pour-over, AeroPress, or even latte art. These events aren’t just about assessing your abilities, they’re also a great way to connect with others in the local coffee community. Thinking about joining a specialty coffee competition in the Philippines? Here are some of the major championships to watch out for:
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Overview:
- Philippine National Barista Championship
- Philippine National Brewers Cup
- Philippine Coffee Roasting Competition
- Origami Cup Philippines
- Philippine AeroPress Championship
- Latte Art Throwdown
Philippine National Barista Championship
Join if: You’re an espresso aficionado and enjoy creating your own signature beverages
This much-awaited championship brings together some of the best baristas from all around the Philippines. Competitors are assessed on their espresso, milk-based drinks, and a signature beverage. They’re judged on taste, technical skill, and presentation, including how well they tell a story through their coffee. The National Barista Championship is licensed by World Coffee Events (WCE), and the winner goes on to represent the Philippines at the annual World Barista Championship.
Over the past three years, the competition has been hosted in Greece, South Korea, and this year, Italy.
Philippine National Brewers Cup
Join if: You’ve mastered your own manual brewing recipe, whether it’s with a pour-over, French press, or AeroPress
The Philippine National Brewers Cup is all about the art of manual brewing, showcasing the creativity and precision of the country’s top brewers. Competitors prepare and serve three individual beverages using a manual brewing method of their choice, showing off not just technical mastery but also their understanding of flavor, balance, and presentation. Judges evaluate them on taste, cleanliness, and how well they communicate the story behind their coffee. This championship is also licensed by World Coffee Events (WCE), and the winner will represent the Philippines on the world stage at the annual World Brewers Cup. The best part? You don’t have to be a professional to join! Home brewers and baristas are welcome to try out their skills in the art of manual brewing.
Philippine Coffee Roasting Competition
Join if: You’re great at bringing out the best flavors of coffee through roasting
In this competition, local roasters go head-to-head, showcasing their craft of bringing out the best flavor of green coffee beans. Competitors have to be precise, consistent, and make use of their sensory skills to come out as the winner. They are judged by technical criteria as well as the flavor, balance, and how their approach brings out the bean’s potential. It’s here we see how the role of the roaster makes an impact in specialty coffee, where their expertise shapes the way your coffee tastes.
The champion also gets to represent the Philippines at the World Coffee Roasting Championship.
Origami Cup Philippines
Join if: You have a signature recipe using the Origami dripper up your sleeve
The first-ever Origami Cup Philippines took place just last year, hosted by Deuces Coffee and with Yasuo Suzuki, the designer of the Origami dripper, as the head judge. The task? To make the best cup of coffee using the Origami dripper, as this pour-over brewing method requires precision and technique to extract the best flavors. Competitors come with their own recipes to showcase not only their brewing skills but also their understanding of flavor and extraction. Judges evaluate the clarity, balance, and extraction of the coffee in knockout-style rounds. Our good friend Tita Aey was the first champion!
If you know the Origami dripper like the back of your hand, this competition might just be for you.
Philippine AeroPress Championship
Join if: You can make a standout cup of coffee using the AeroPress
The Philippine AeroPress Championship is one of the most fun and fast-paced competitions in the coffee scene! Competitors go head-to-head in brewing rounds using the AeroPress. With its versatility, the possibilities are endless when it comes to the techniques and brews they can create. Each match is a knockout round, where brewers serve their coffee to a panel of judges who taste blind and choose their favorite cup.
In the end, only one brewer comes out on top and earns the chance to represent the Philippines at the World AeroPress Championship.
Latte Art Throwdown
Join if: You want to show off your creative side with elaborate latte art
Can you make a heart, tulip, swan, or more elaborate designs with your latte art? Then you might just be a strong contender for a latte throwdown!
Different cafes around the Philippines host their own latte art throwdowns, bringing together baristas and coffee enthusiasts to show off their skills. Unlike formal championships, throwdowns are usually casual, high-energy events where creativity and speed matter most. Competitors go head-to-head, and judges or even the crowd decide who advances to the next round. You don’t have to be a pro to join, you just need to bring your A-game and impress the judges with your picture-perfect pours.
While the ultimate goal of these championships is to find the best of the best, they’re also a great opportunity to showcase the talent within the local coffee scene. You don’t have to be a professional: cafe owners, baristas, roasters, home brewers, and anyone passionate about coffee can take part! So if you’ve been curious about joining, consider this your sign to experience the thrill of competing. Who knows? Your brew might just take you all the way to the world stage.
Need to buff up your skills? Try out our comprehensive workshops led by our expert baristas to teach you different skills including manual brewing, cupping, espresso making, and even latte art!
