Twenty countries, five judges, four days and one mission: to take the crown as Lavazza’s Barista Challenge Champion. Tobias Pearce travelled to Turin to witness the young coffee professionals ushering in a new era of flavour innovation for the global coffee industry
Precision, skill, passion and creativity are all essential for a great coffee experience. But great coffee is also about great storytelling, and this year’s Barista Challenge focused on the fusion between the traditional and the contemporary, with local twists from 20 countries.
Lavazza Barista Challenge 2026 judges:
- Francesca Bieker WCC Judge and Sensory Expert
- Carlo Odello CEO, IEI Istituto Espresso Italiano
- Lauro Fioretti Coffee Expert, Simonelli Group
- Mirko Negri Luxury Lifestyle Properties & Project Managing Director
- Dionysis Moustis Lavazza AFH Marketing Manager
Using Lavazza’s Tales of Italy collection, which pays homage to contemporary caffetteria Italiana experiences in Milan, Venice, Rome and Naples, each competitor was tasked with blending traditional Italian espresso with a progressive infusion of ingredients to create a non-alcoholic signature drink served hot or cold.
“Tales of Italy moves beyond a nostalgic or stereotypical idea of Italianity, reinterpreting Italian coffee culture through a contemporary, social, creative and design-driven lifestyle. Inspired by iconic coffee venues, baristas brought to life their interpretation of conventional and unconventional moments of consumption with passion, creativity and dedication, transforming storytelling into authentic and memorable experiences for the final customer,” says Michele Cannone, Lavazza’s Global Brand Director.
This high-stakes event was many of the young baristas and mixologists’ first competition experience. Remarkably, Azerbaijan’s Asiv Hajiyev reached the finals despite having worked in coffee for less than two years, delivering an outstanding performance with his signature drink, Turin Soul.
Many competitors were under the age of 25, yet all displayed professionalism, creativity and courage far beyond their years. Together, these young baristas represented the future of coffee itself.
Chilled espresso and micro-foam featured heavily, as did cascara and a wide range of spices, fruit infusions and emulsions. There was a deep respect for espresso preparation using traditional machines, and it was clear that competitors had mastered the art of flavour innovation to deliver wave after wave of intriguing, colourful and delectable creations.
The resounding message was that coffee has boundless potential when imagination, ingenuity and skills are applied. Competitors reminded us that innovation does not have to come at the expense of tradition and that both are strengthened when harnessed in tandem.
“A barista is truly an author of flavour”, said South Africa’s Daniel Smith during his competition. “Complexity isn’t just an asset on a score sheet; every ingredient brings an intended note,” he told judges while preparing a drink inspired by the honey and herbs added to ancient Roman wine. He then infused peppercorn, bay leaves, ginger syrup, grapefruit and wild blossom honey for a stand-out creation that took second place.
China’s Jiayun Ye used iced ristretto and experimented with alkaline and acid solutions to change the colour of his drink, which was infused with cold brew jasmine tea and Italian lemon.
“Whatever we do and wherever we go, life is a journey,” said Maltese competitor Blažo Stojanov, reminding judges that Jasmine is a botanical cousin of coffee as he crafted a micro-dense foam for his beverage.
Ultimately, the top prize went to the UAE’s Lablibell Bajarias and her drink, Il Bosco, or ‘The Woods’. “What gives coffee a life?” Bajarias asked judges as she described coffee as the “language of respect” in the UAE, where guests are not offered coffee – they are always graciously handed it.
She also urged that “tradition alone cannot keep coffee alive, because people change and the world changes.”
With this seed planted, Bajarias stunned judges with her signature drink, which harnessed the natural fruit and honey notes of Lavazza’s Tales of Italy Galleria Milano as a chilled espresso base.
She then combined lactose-fermented strawberry and basil juice, dates, saccharum, coffee-infused butter, a cascara infusion and a few drops of saline solution to finish.
This was a masterclass in mixology, but also barista theatre, as Bajarias dazzled the audience by serving her drink amidst a dry ice basil fog designed to pique the senses and cool the surrounding air.
Asked what she would take away from the competition, Bajarias praised the strong performance of her international peers. “It means so much to me because there are so many different talents from different countries,” she said.
Armenia’s Roza Gevorgyan won the Press Prize, which this year was judged by Tobias Pearce, Editor of World Coffee Portal and 5THWAVE magazine.
Gevorgyan’s drink combined Italian espresso with Armenian apricot and tropical pineapple to create an innovative, bright and refreshing drink.
“Warmth is an essential part of hospitality, and Roza made the whole room smile with her performance,” Pearce said. “She reminds us that the role of the barista is complex, challenging and requires utmost professionalism. Above all, it is not easy to combine technical skill with genuine grace,” he added.
Through the Barista Challenge, Lavazza is paying homage to Italy’s hallowed espresso culture while acknowledging that innovation keeps the coffee industry healthy and ready for the challenges – and opportunities – that tomorrow will bring.
A shared passion for coffee, mixology and hospitality brought together 20 countries from across the globe. Together, these young baristas provided a glimpse of the future of coffee – and assured us that time-honoured traditions are in good hands.
Follow Lavazza’s social channels in your local market and get ready to be the first to register for the 2027 edition launch!
