Cafe 385 in Yeongdo, Busan (Photo: a screenshot from Cafe 385′s Instagram account)
BUSAN, Apr. 5 (Korea Bizwire) – The city of Busan will become the epicenter of the coffee world next month as it hosts the “World of Coffee & World Barista Championship,” an international event showcasing coffee products and pitting national barista champions against one another.
From May 1 to 4, the Bexco Exhibition Center will welcome the prestigious event, organized jointly by Busan Metropolitan City and the Specialty Coffee Association (SCA).
Busan Coffee Show (Image courtesy of Yonhap)
This premier coffee gathering aims to promote Busan’s brand as a “City of Coffee,” nurture local talent, and foster the growth of the burgeoning coffee industry and its associated businesses.
The event comprises two main components: a high-quality coffee exhibition of global renown and a world-class barista competition to crown the next coffee superstar.
The “World of Coffee Busan” exhibition will feature 250 domestic and international companies showcasing coffee products, technologies, and services. It is expected to attract over 12,000 visitors, including coffee industry professionals from over 70 countries.
Busan Coffee Show (Image courtesy of Yonhap)
A dedicated “Roasters Village” within the exhibition will provide a platform for domestic and international cafes to promote their coffee and brands.
Additionally, the event will host the “SCA Community Lounge” for global coffee exchanges, a “Cupping Room” where citizens and coffee enthusiasts can sample various brews from around the world, and an immersive seminar program exploring coffee culture.
A special promotional booth themed “Busan: The First City in South Korea to Embrace Coffee” will highlight the city’s historical connection with the beverage.
The World Barista Championship serves as a gateway for aspiring baristas to achieve global recognition. Past champions include Paul Bassett in 2015, James Hoffmann in 2016, and Jeon Jooyeon, the first Korean to claim the title, in 2019.
World of Coffee Busan (Image courtesy of World of Coffee & World Barista Championship Busan)
After a seven-year hiatus since the 2017 Seoul edition, the championship returns to South Korea, with national barista representatives from 60 countries vying for the coveted title.
Citizens and coffee enthusiasts interested in attending can purchase discounted tickets through Interpark until April 28.
Mayor Park Heong-joon expressed his enthusiasm, stating, “This event will have a positive ripple effect not only on the domestic coffee industry but also on various aspects of the Asian coffee industry.” He added, “We expect this event to significantly contribute to the revitalization of the local economy, including tourism.”
Image credit: Yonhap, Cafe 385, World of Coffee & World Barista Championship Busan / photonews@koreabizwire.com
