Back in Tokyo, back on stage, and back on top—Vasilina Levina and Kirill Gorelov of Russia’s Surf Coffee made history at TBL Asia 2026 with a back-to-back win.
BY VASILEIA FANARIOTI
SENIOR ONLINE CORRESPONDENT
Photos courtesy of The Barista League
What to know:
- Russia’s Vasilina Levina and Kirill Gorelov successfully defended their title at The Barista League Asia 2026 in Tokyo last month, becoming repeat champions with a routine that balanced creativity, storytelling, and technical skill
- Despite both competitors recently taking on new roles as coffee shop managers, they trained on weekends, carefully divided responsibilities, and designed their performance to keep judges engaged throughout—reflecting the same guest-focused approach they use in their cafés
- The champions praised The Barista League’s unique format for encouraging live interaction with judges, theatrical presentations, and a welcoming atmosphere, saying the experience reinforced their passion for coffee and the global coffee community.
From Prague to Mexico City and now to Tokyo: The Barista League (TBL)’s 2026 global season made its Asian stop on June 11 at ADRIFT in Shimokitazawa, a neighbourhood venue in one of Tokyo’s most creatively charged districts—and delivered what the new format promises: live judge interaction, performances built around concept and service, and a room full of people who clearly did not want to be anywhere else. Six teams took the stage. When the scores came in, the winners were the same as last year: Vasilina Levina and Kirill Gorelov, representing Russia’s Surf Coffee.
Winning once at The Barista League is an achievement. Winning twice in a row — in the same city, under a revised format, while both competitors were simultaneously navigating the demands of managing a coffee shop — is something else. We spoke with Vasilina and Kirill about what the sequel looked like from the inside, what a visit to a Tokyo temple has to do with competition preparation, and what three words sum up a year they will not forget.
Barista Magazine: Congrats on your win! How did you prepare for The Barista League competition? Did you have a strategy going in?
Kirill: Thank you! Preparation for this season was very different from last year. Both Vasilina and I had major changes in our work and careers. Our focus shifted. Last year, we were part of Surf Coffee High School, developing training materials and conducting coffee skills workshops.
Now, each of us manages our own coffee shop. It’s a new path and a new chapter. Preparation fell during a challenging period. We had to balance learning new management skills with competition training. But it was fun. We met on weekends and made them productive.
How did you aim to stand out from the other teams, whether in approach, style, or energy?
Vasilina & Kirill: This year, we decided to go with a classic sequel approach: Keep what worked and was memorable from last time, while bringing in something new to surprise. From last year—the tablecloth, fresh flowers, and music that everyone already knows. What’s new? Full immersion for the judges through tangible pieces of our brand, plus a little fire.
What makes The Barista League different from other competitions, and what did you love most about it?
Vasilina & Kirill: Even though this year’s regulations and overall approach were more polished and serious, the championship still managed to keep a relaxed atmosphere where everyone—organizers, participants, and guests—truly enjoyed the process.
How did the team dynamic work between the two of you? Any funny or memorable moments from backstage?
Vasilina & Kirill: With competition experience behind us, our teamwork was highly structured. Each of us had clearly assigned tasks. Planning is one of our strengths and one of the most important parts of preparation—the Russian school of coffee championships taught us that. It’s how we do things.
A moment worth sharing—it’s a bit personal, but we think it’s okay. Last year, the day before the championship, Vasilina and I visited Zojo-ji temple to pray for our victory, just like Miki Suzuki did in the 2019 film Baristas. This year, we chose a different temple near the venue and did the same. We’re not used to asking for anything, and we don’t usually rely on things we can’t control. But this became a tradition, and we approach it with gratitude.
One unique aspect of The Barista League is the live interaction with judges. How was that experience for you, especially being able to respond and engage in real time?
Vasilina & Kirill: We planned our performance so that every second of the judges’ attention was on either our speech or the drink preparation process. This is a basic principle we use in our coffee shops: Never leave guests unattended. Our interaction with the judges was continuous and sequential, creating one unified story for everyone.
Let’s rewind. What got each of you started in coffee, and what’s kept you hooked?
Kirill: Coffee is my first job. It started with a basic need for any kind of work, but I got drawn into this industry. I became genuinely interested, and now it’s been seven years. The best part? The further I go, the more interesting it gets. The amazing people around me help me fall more and more in love with this craft. Along the way, I’ve made wonderful acquaintances and loyal friends.
Vasilina: I started working in coffee when I was 16. At the time, I was shy and introverted, but I was drawn to the welcoming community around the new Surf Coffee cafés and wanted to be part of it. Coffee turned out to be the perfect combination of the two things I loved most: creativity and connecting with people. That’s what has kept me in the industry ever since.
Who or what inspires you most in the coffee industry right now?
Kirill: Last year, I discovered something truly great: travelling and doing guest shifts in coffee shops. So far, we’ve done guest shifts at Hitch Bicycle Club in Seoul, Dotcom Coffee Asakusabashi in Tokyo, and Mountain Mover Coffee in Tokyo. I couldn’t even dream of standing behind a counter in another country and serving guests. It’s incredibly inspiring, and I’m ready to do it again and again.
As for names in the industry that inspire me: Miki Suzuki will always be professional number one for me. Jack Simpson—I’d love to go surfing with him. Yasuo Ishii—we both have a sports background in martial arts, so we’d definitely have something to talk about. Emi Fukahori—she’s incredibly fun and welcoming. I’d love to do a guest shift with each of them.
Vasilina: It’s hard to name just one person because I’m constantly meeting new people in coffee who inspire me. One of the first was Bohdan Prokopchuk—an active barista competitor in Russia who now runs several coffee projects in Moscow. To me, he represents professionalism, craftsmanship, and integrity. When I grow up, I want to be like him.
Looking beyond the competition itself, how were the months of preparation, and what was your overall experience working with the TBL team and everyone involved?
Vasilina & Kirill: Preparation was top-notch. The TBL team took a lot of feedback from last year into account and worked hard to make the event as comfortable as possible for everyone. We stayed in contact before the championship, and during the event the team and volunteers worked very smoothly. Thank you!
You’ve now won back-to-back. What does it feel like to defend a title, and what do you think it is about your partnership that keeps delivering at this level?
Vasilina & Kirill: When we stepped on stage this year, we didn’t think too much about defending a title. It felt much more comfortable to be on the same level as the other participants. We simply enjoyed the process—and the fact that we were back in this beautiful country with these wonderful people. The back-to-back win simply confirms that we’re moving in the right direction.
If you had to describe your Barista League experience in three words, what would they be?
Vasilina & Kirill: Surfing. Never. Alone.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Vasileia Fanarioti (she/her) is a senior online correspondent for Barista Magazine and a freelance copywriter and editor with a primary focus on the coffee niche. She has also been a volunteer copywriter for the I’M NOT A BARISTA NPO, providing content to help educate people about baristas and their work.
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