What a beautiful city Vienna is ”we’re all so excited to be here for the 2012 World Barista Championship!
After I arrived via Amsterdam in mid-afternoon, I met up with photographer extraordinaire, Amanda Wilson, and headed to the Barista Meet & Greet Party at Mokador cafe in the center of the city’s pedestrian historic district. It was beautiful.
Upon arriving, we were greeted with so many happy faces! But take my word for it ”the party was subdued: these baristas know they have some serious work ahead of them this week for the World Barista Championship: the preliminary round of 53 competitors begins tomorrow at 8 a.m., and continued through end of day Wednesday, when the 12 semifinalists will be announced. The semifinal round will commence on Thursday, with a final six baristas vying for the title of 2012 World Barista Champion on Friday.
The WBC isn’t the only event going on at the SCAE’s World of Coffee Event here in Vienna this week: The World Brewers Cup, The World Ibrik, The World Cup Tasters, and the brand new Roasters Challenge, will also take place.
And closing out the evening came some exciting news from World Coffee Events organizer and grand poo-bah, Cindy Ludviksen: the 2013 World Barista Championship and World Brewers Cup events will take place in Melbourne, Australia, in May 2013!!
But let’s focus on this year: competition starts tomorrow morning, bright and early. For a list of the competitors and their performance times, go HERE.
And stay tuned right here on Barista Magazine’s blog, as well as on our Facebook page, for updates and photos throughout this week!
I’m pumped! How about you?
