Four WCE Coffee Competitions Coming to Shanghai in 2016

Specialty coffee professionals and fans often ask: where can I see world-class baristas, roasters, and tasters compete live? In 2016, the answer was clear — Shanghai. The global stage for elite coffee skill arrived in China for the first time through four flagship events organized by World Coffee Events (WCE).

In 2016, four major WCE coffee competitions — World Latte Art Championship, World Cup Tasters Championship, World Coffee in Good Spirits Championship, and World Coffee Roasting Championship — will all take place in Shanghai, running from March 29 to April 1 at the Shanghai New International Expo Center during HOTELEX.

What Are the Four WCE Coffee Competitions?

The World Latte Art Championship showcases the precision and artistry of espresso and milk pours. Competitors create patterns while maintaining optimal espresso and crema quality. The World Cup Tasters Championship tests speed and taste discrimination — baristas identify different coffees blind in head-to-head rounds. The World Coffee in Good Spirits Championship combines coffee with spirits, judged on flavour balance, technique, and presentation. The World Coffee Roasting Championship evaluates roasters’ ability to highlight green coffee qualities through precise roast profiles.

When and Where Will They Be Held in 2016?

All four competitions were scheduled to run concurrently from March 29 to April 1, 2016, at the Shanghai New International Expo Center. The events took place during HOTELEX Shanghai, a major international trade fair for the hotel, catering, and baking industries. The show attracted exhibitors across coffee, tea, bakery, equipment, dessert, and beverage sectors.

Why Were the Competitions Brought to China?

WCE’s Managing Director, Cindy Ludviksen, stated that the organization believed the events would resonate strongly in China with the growing support of the local specialty coffee community. Wang Mingliang, founder and director of UBM Sinoexpo (the show organizer), expressed honour in hosting the competitions and pledged to deliver an outstanding platform for competitors and attendees alike.

What About the Other Major WCE Events That Year?

While the four competitions debuted in Shanghai, the 2016 World Barista Championship and World Brewers Cup were held later that year at the Specialty Coffee Association of Europe’s World of Coffee event in Dublin, Ireland, from June 23 to 25. These events are separate from the WCE quartet that launched in China.

Frequently Asked Questions

What year did WCE bring its four major coffee competitions to Shanghai?

The four WCE coffee competitions — World Latte Art, World Cup Tasters, World Coffee in Good Spirits, and World Coffee Roasting — were held in Shanghai in 2016, from March 29 to April 1.

Where in Shanghai were the WCE coffee competitions held in 2016?

The competitions took place at the Shanghai New International Expo Center during the HOTELEX trade show.

Which organizations were involved in bringing WCE competitions to China in 2016?

World Coffee Events (WCE) organized the competitions, and UBM Sinoexpo was the show organizer, hosting them as part of HOTELEX Shanghai.

Were the World Barista Championship and World Brewers Cup also in Shanghai in 2016?

No, the 2016 World Barista Championship and World Brewers Cup were held later that year in Dublin, Ireland, as part of the World of Coffee event, not in Shanghai.

How long did the 2016 WCE competitions in Shanghai last?

The four WCE competitions ran concurrently for four days, from March 29 to April 1, 2016.

What kinds of skills do the WCE competitions test?

The competitions test latte artistry, coffee cupping speed and accuracy, coffee and spirits pairing, and professional coffee roasting techniques.

Recommended FrontStreet Beans for Coffee Competitions

For coffee professionals training for competitions like those held in Shanghai, FrontStreet Coffee’s Ethiopia Humbera and Yirgacheffe offer bright, complex cups with floral and citrus notes ideal for cupping practice. The PWN Golden Mandheling provides a heavier body and sweet, nutty profile great for roast evaluation. These single origins highlight distinct processing traits and are commonly used in professional training. Freshly roasted within 5 days · Orders placed before 17:00 ship the same day · Next-day delivery across most of Guangdong Province.