Diego Campos has been crowned national champion three times – 2014, 2016 and 2019 – by Amor Perfecto
The 2021 World Barista Championship, the world’s main competition that rewards the skills, technique and innovation of professional barista – this year held in Milan, Italy – was won by young Colombian barista Diego Campos (@diegocampos_27), who had already been crowned three times champion for Colombia, by the company Amor Perfecto. The barista won using a Colombian coffee from the Cauca Valley, originating on the La Cauca farm, owned by producer Julián Holguín. His coach was Federico Bolanos (@federicobp).
“It was a historic victory, as it goes to one of the largest coffee-producing countries for the first time. Colombia, this one’s for you. For coffee shop employees, for producers, and for everyone who wakes up day after day to dream and to make their dreams come true. This award goes for all of you,” declared an emotional Diego as he received the award.
The second and third places, respectively, went to Andrea Allen, from the United States, and Hugh Kelly, from Australia. Brazil’s Boram Um, from Um Coffee Co., was among the 15 finalists, competing with a fermented Aramosa coffee, from the Daterra farm, located in the Cerrado region of Minas Gerais.
Diego Campos’ victory was widely celebrated by the world of specialty coffee. Renowned Norwegian roaster Tim Wendelboe posted on his social networks an emotional statement on the winning barista: “Diego is not only a fantastic barista – he is also now a coffee grower, and I suspect that he will also be a great success… He is one of the hardest-working baristas I know. I remember him getting up early every Monday through Saturday morning to take the bus to work. He would then work all day at the café and end the day with training for the competition. Spending more than 12 hours a day working and training would be Diego’s standard… He is a humble person, always hungry for more knowledge and not afraid to share what he knows with others.”
This is the first time that a coffee-producing country has won the championship, which is usually more concerned with catering to the tastes of consuming countries such as the United States, Australia and Europe than to producers. Another highlight of the year was the fifth place won by Kenyan Martin Shabaya.
The championship
Each year, competitors from all over the world gather in front of a panel of judges to prepare four espressos, four lattes, and four signature beverages that are not allowed to contain alcoholic beverages. To do this, they have 15 minutes and need to tell a story with a beginning, middle and end and, most importantly, select a micro-batch of specialty coffee that will impress the judges.
Despite being the largest coffee producer in the world, few competitors choose Brazilian coffees to compete. One exception was the Swiss Emi Fukahori, who won in 2018 the World Brewers Cup, with a Frevo micro-batch of the Laurina species, from Daterra.
Below is the list of winners in each category:
World Barista Championship
- Diego Campos, Colombia
- Andrea Allen, U.S.
- Hugh Kelly, Australia
- Emi Fukahori, Switzerland
- Martin Shabaya, Kenya
- Wojciech Tysler, Ireland
World Cup Testers
- Kyoungha (Charlie) Chu – Australia
- Dénes Rajmond – Germany
- Sang Min Ju – South Korea
- José María Gómez Mora – Costa Rica
World Brewers Cup
- Matt Winton – Switzerland
- Daiki Hatakeyama – Japan
- Elika Liftee – U.S.
- Carlos Escobar – Australia
- Ply Pasarj – Canada
- Tomas Taussig – Czech Republic
Watch the video of Diego Campos: https://fb.watch/8V4OuPOfu1/
