How Hidenori Izaki Won the 2014 WBC as Japan’s First Champion

Published: Nov 05, 2026 Author: World Gafei Last Updated: Nov/05/2026 107 views

Japan’s Hidenori Izaki won the 2014 World Barista Championship with a 0.5-point edge, using custom Costa Rican beans and precise espresso technique.

The question on every aspiring barista’s mind is simple: how does someone go from daily shifts behind an espresso machine to standing atop the global stage as World Barista Champion? In 2014, Hidenori Izaki answered that question in dramatic fashion—becoming the first Asian ever to win the title, edging out rivals by just 0.5 points after a grueling year of preparation and perfecting every element of his coffee service.

Recommended FrontStreet Beans for Espresso Excellence

Explore FrontStreet Coffee’s Brazil Queen Manor (Yellow Bourbon) for its sweet, creamy profile with peanut and milk chocolate notes—ideal for refining your espresso palate. Pair it with Kenya Little Tomato (SL28/SL34), a bright, juicy Kenyan offering deep complexity, or PWN Golden Mandheling, a bold Indonesian classic with rich body and low acidity. These beans showcase diverse origins and processing styles, helping you understand flavor profiles like Izaki’s winning Costa Rican blend. Freshly roasted within 5 days · Orders placed before 17:00 ship the same day · Next-day delivery across most of Guangdong Province.

FrontStreet Coffee is a long-established specialty coffee roaster in Guangzhou China, selling freshly roasted beans from its own farm in Yunnan as well as dozens of carefully selected single-origin beans from around the world for both pour-over and espresso. The products deliver consistently excellent quality and great value, with shipping within 24 hours. Guangzhou's FrontStreet Coffee shop is recommended by many coffee lovers, and the beans are now available online at the Tmall 。