Jack Simpson of Australia has been crowned the 2025 World Barista Champion, taking the top prize at the World Barista Championship held during Host Milano this week.
The championship, which concluded on Tuesday after five days of intense competition, saw Simpson beat out more than 50 competitors from around the globe at the prestigious event held at Fiera Milano in Rho, Italy. Host Milano is the global epicentre of the hospitality and foodservice industry.
Simpson, who works with the team at Axil Coffee in Melbourne, edged out Simon SunLei of China, who placed second, and Ben Put of Canada, who came in third. The top six finalists also included Jason Loo of Malaysia, Hiroki Ito of Japan, and Christopher Sahyoun Hoff of Denmark.
The World Barista Championship celebrates coffee excellence while elevating the barista profession globally. Competitors face a demanding 15-minute performance where they must meticulously craft four espressos, four milk-based drinks, and four signature beverages, all while being judged on technique, creativity, and execution.
For Simpson, the victory caps an eight-year competitive journey that began as a learning experience. “I originally started to compete to learn more and use this as a space to explore and try all my ideas,” he said. “This year it has evolved, and I want to send a positive message to the industry.”
Simpson’s coffee career spans 11 years, beginning with an unlikely origin story. “My passion started when I was an apprentice carpenter and drinking coffee all over Melbourne before work,” he explained. “Before I knew it, I was working as a barista.”
The champion credited his success to the Axil Coffee team, particularly Dave Makin and Matt Crowley, as well as his partner, who he said “is always pushing me to do my best and is always backstage with me.”
Axil Coffee noted on its Instagram page that the World Barista Championship “…isn’t just a competition, it sets the standards for how coffee is brewed, served, and experienced in cafes around the world — including ours.”
