Judges are a vital component of the World Coffee Championships (WCC), providing a service and skill essential to the success of each championship. In six of the seven championships, WCC Certified Judges evaluate performances by competitors according to the Rules and Regulations for that championship. Each championship has a different set of evaluation criteria and a different mix of judges on the judging panel.
To become a WCC Certified Judge, applicants must complete a WCC Judge Certification, where they will demonstrate their competition skills and knowledge during a two-day test. Instructors will guide participants through performance-based and written tests that measure a judge’s ability to perform successfully in a World Coffee Championship.
Qualified participants who pass all written and practical tests in any World Championship assessment will be authorized to judge in that World Championship. The two-day test will offer opportunities to certify for the World Barista Championship, World Latte Art Championship, World Brewers Cup, World Coffee in Good Spirits Championship, World Coffee Roasting Championship, and the Cezve/Ibrik Championship. A participant may certify for any or all of these championships at a Judge Certification. Participants may only certify for technical or sensory judging and cannot test for both at a single Judge Certification. Upon registration, all participants will pay a fee to sit the test. The registration fee covers the administration of the test, regardless of the result. Anyone passing the test will be issued a Judge Certificate free of charge.
Once achieved, WCC Judge Certification is valid for three (3) years. For certifications starting in 2015 and later, a certified judge may renew their certification for an additional three (3) years by passing calibration and judging in a World Championship in the final year of their original certification. A judge may only renew their certification one time without re-testing.
Photo: Jeff Hann
Upcoming Dates & Locations for Judge Certification
- Athens, Greece (FULL) — June 14-15, 2023
- Taipei, Taiwan — November 11-12, 2023
Apply for a Judge Certification
Once you have chosen a Judge Certification date, please fill out the Previous Judging Experience Document below and submit it along with the Judge Certification Application Form.
These documents will be used to determine your eligibility for Judge Certification. If there is availability on your chosen date, a member of staff will follow up with a link for you to complete the payment.
After this step is completed, you will be officially registered for WCC Judge Certification.
For any questions about the process or your application status, please email judgecert@worldcoffeeevents.org.
Photo: Lanny Huang
Eligibility
The minimum prerequisites to attend a WCC Judge Certification are listed below, but we advise having more experience before taking the exam. Judging experience must match the type of certification you are applying for: e.g., technical judging experience applies to technical judge certification.
- Experience:
- Judging experience in one (1) world championship (World Latte Art Championship, World Coffee in Good Spirits Championship, World Brewers Cup, World Barista Championship, or World Coffee Roasting Championship)
- OR two (2) years’ experience judging in the finals of the same national-level Latte Art, Coffee in Good Spirits, Brewers Cup, Barista, or Roasting Competition*
- OR one (1) year of judging experience at a national-level WCC sanctioned competition AND one (1) fully completed World Competitions Education Program** for the specific competition.
- Judging experience must be within the last 5 years to maintain eligibility.
- Agree to abide by the WCE Judges Code of Conduct.
- Pay all testing fees.
*You must have two years’ experience judging in the national finals of each competition you are applying to certify in.
**After completing a WCEP date, applicants must wait a minimum of 1 month before applying for a WCE Judge Certification. It is not possible to progress directly from a WCEP to a WCE Judge Certification. This is the minimum required time to apply the skills learned at a WCEP date.
Cancellation and Refund Policy
WCE reserves the right to cancel a Judge Certification at any time. In the event of a WCE cancellation, registrants will be offered an opportunity to transfer registration to another planned workshop. Requests for refunds due to WCE cancellation of a workshop may be sent to judgecert@worldcoffeeevents.org
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