The 2017 World Barista Championship Finalists

The six National Barista Champions advancing to the final round of the 2017 WBC are announced!

Photos by Kenneth R. Olson

After an exciting, exhausting, and thoroughly exhilarating three days of preliminary and semifinal rounds, the top six baristas from an intensely talented pool of 58 champions are advancing to the final round of the World Barista Championship (WBC) in Seoul, South Korea, tomorrow.

The 2017 World Barista Championship finalists.

The final round will be streamed online live tomorrow—Sunday, November 12—beginning at 10:15 a.m. KST (which is 5:15 p.m. Saturday, November 11 PST). You can tune in and watch all the action HERE.

Finalists were announced in the order in which they will compete:

Finalist #1: Hugh Kelly, ONA Coffee, AUSTRALIA
Finalist #2: Kapo Chiu, Cupping Room Coffee Roasters, HONG KONG
Finalist #3: Miki Suzuki, Maruyama Coffee, JAPAN
Finalist #4: Kyle Ramage, Black & White Coffee Roasters, UNITED STATES
Finalist #5: Ben Put, Monogram Coffee, CANADA
Finalist #6: Dale Harris, Hasbean Coffee,  UNITED KINGDOM

Congratulations to all 2017 National Barista Champions, and we look forward to the final round tomorrow!

Please read our statement here about the recent decision by the Specialty Coffee Association regarding the decision about the 2018 competitions in Dubai. We will continue to report live from Seoul with a focus on competitors and their progress, so please check here for results and standings. We also turn to the global coffee community for their feelings and thoughts regarding this decision, so please email, leave comments, or find us on social media to share your concerns.

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