World Coffee Roasting Championship Debuts in the USA at Specialty Coffee Expo Houston
The 2025 World Coffee Roasting Championship (WCRC) is coming to the United States for the first time, bringing over 25 champions and top competitors to Houston, Texas, for a chance to win a world title. Taking place at the Specialty Coffee Expo Houston from April 25-27, 2025, at the George R. Brown Convention Center, the competition will be part of the Houston World Coffee Championships (WCC). These globally recognized events bring together coffee professionals from around the world, attracting both in-person attendees and a global audience via live stream.
The World Coffee Championships (WCC) are a series of seven competitions that take place annually at major coffee events, showcasing talent in various aspects of coffee preparation and service. Organized by over 50 sanctioned Competition Bodies worldwide, these events provide a platform for coffee professionals to demonstrate their expertise. Recent updates to competition rules, formats, and equipment continue to shape these events, keeping them engaging for both participants and spectators.
The World Coffee Roasting Championship celebrates excellence in coffee roasting, evaluating competitors on coffee evaluation, preparation, blending, and roasting. Since its launch in in 2013, the competition has grown significantly, and in 2025, it will welcome over 25 global champions, making it the largest edition to date. As the only World Coffee Championship event in North America in 2025, it will provide an opportunity for coffee professionals and enthusiasts in the region to experience the competition firsthand.
Competitors showcase their skills through sample roasting, the open cupping process, and their ability to deliver their target roast profile by completing a modified SCA Coffee Value Assessment (CVA) Descriptive Assessment. Judges evaluate accuracy through competitors' self-assessments and conduct double-blind sensory tests across multiple categories.
This year’s event marks Stronghold S9X as the Official Production Roaster, Nucleus Coffee Tools & Kaffelogic LINK as the Official Sample Roaster, along with VIVREAU returning as Qualified Water Filtration sponsor.
For more information and updates, visit wcc.coffee and follow along on social media @worldcoffeechampionships. Register to attend in person at coffeeexpo.org
Make sure to join us — either in-person or online — at the 2025 World Coffee Championships this season:
Houston World Coffee Championships
April 25-27 at the Specialty Coffee Expo in Houston, TX, USA
Featuring the World Coffee Roasting Championship
Jakarta World Coffee Championships
May 15-17 at World of Coffee in Jakarta, Indonesia
Featuring the World Brewers Cup
Geneva World Coffee Championships
June 26-28 at World of Coffee in Geneva, Switzerland
Featuring the World Latte Art, World Coffee in Good Spirits, World Cup Tasters, and Cezve/Ibrik Championships
Milan World Coffee Championships
October 17-21 at HostMilano in Milan, Italy
Featuring the 25th World Barista Championship
