2016 Shanghai Hosted All Four World Coffee Championships

In March 2016, coffee professionals and enthusiasts from around the world converged in Shanghai not for a trade show alone, but for something far rarer: the chance to witness all four premier global coffee championship finals take place in one city. This marked the first time China hosted the world finals of these elite events, drawing over 200 champions from 62 member countries.

In 2016, Shanghai became the first city in China to host the global finals of all four major World Coffee Events championships—Latte Art, Coffee in Good Spirits, Cup Tasters, and Roasting—in a single event.

The First Chinese Hosting of Global Coffee Finals

From March 29 to April 1, 2016, during the HOTELEX Shanghai (part of the Shanghai International Hotel & Catering Machinery Exhibition), the world watched as the global finals of four major coffee competitions unfolded simultaneously. These were the World Latte Art Championship, World Coffee in Good Spirits Championship, World Cup Tasters Championship, and World Coffee Roasting Championship. It was the largest number of coffee competitions ever hosted concurrently at HOTELEX, and the first time China secured the rights to hold their world finals.

What Took Place: The Four Coffee Championships

The four competitions represented different pillars of professional coffee excellence:

World Latte Art Championship

This is the top-level global competition for poured milk art. Competitors craft designs atop espresso and steamed milk. Over 30 national champions created latte art on custom Loveramics ceramic cups using taste-tested Wei Chuan milk. Equipment included the Italian CMA Astoria Plus4YouTS espresso machine and Yami-branded bar tools from Dazheng Group, with Anfim as the official grinder sponsor. Cafetto supplied cleaning products, and Pentair managed water purification. The latte art stage was set up in HOTELEX’s E7 hall.

World Coffee in Good Spirits Championship

This competition highlighted creative coffee cocktails and classic drinks that combine coffee with spirits. Featuring ingredients from sponsors like Skyy vodka, London Dry gin, Kavalan whisky, Grand Marnier, Monin, and Teisseire syrups, baristas demonstrated their skills at a dedicated spirits bar—a new addition this year. The venue was in N4 hall.

World Coffee Roasting Championship

A three-part competition where judges evaluated green bean assessment, roast profiling, and final cup quality. Proaster was the title sponsor, Giesen supplied roasting equipment, and Stronghold provided sample beans. The public could taste freshly roasted coffee brewed on BUNN machines. The roasting competition took place in the NT1 hall.

World Cup Tasters Championship

Here, competitors identified the odd cup out among three visually identical coffees using sensory skill alone. Marco sponsored the brewing station, where 12 specialty coffees were brewed using three different methods for attendees. The cupping arena was located in the N4 hall.

Equipment, Water, and Sponsorship Details

All four competitions used rigorously tested professional equipment. The espresso machines were CMA Astoria Plus4YouTS models, paired with bar tools from Dazheng Group’s Yami brand. Anfim was the official grinder sponsor for the latte art competition. Cleaning was handled by Cafetto, and Pentair ensured all water used in brewing and roasting met competition standards. Sponsors also included Wei Chuan milk, Loveramics cups, and various beverage suppliers for the spirits competition.

Unprecedented Gathering of Global Talent

Over 200 champions from 62 World Coffee Events member countries attended, judged by world-class referees from more than 30 nations. This historic event marked the first time these four world championship finals were held together in China, and many international participants experienced China for the first time. The organizers emphasized cultural exchange and aimed to create a welcoming experience to leave a lasting impression.

Official After-Party: A Celebration of Coffee History

To conclude the competitions, an “Official After-Party: Time Travel” was held on April 1 at 8:00 PM in the Zendai Himalayas Center’s Infinity Arena. The event was presented by HOTELEX Shanghai and sponsored by CMA Astoria, Dazheng Group, and Shanghai Weiming Food.

Frequently Asked Questions

What four coffee competitions were held in Shanghai in 2016?

In 2016, Shanghai hosted the World Latte Art Championship, World Coffee in Good Spirits Championship, World Cup Tasters Championship, and World Coffee Roasting Championship—all as their respective world finals. It was the first time all four took place in China.

Where were the 2016 world coffee championship finals held?

The competitions were held in three exhibition halls at HOTELEX Shanghai: E7 (latte art), N4 (cup tasters and coffee in good spirits), and NT1 (roasting). The event ran from March 29 to April 1, 2016.

Which companies sponsored the equipment and ingredients for the competitions?

Sponsors included CMA Astoria (espresso machines), Dazheng Group (Yami bar tools), Anfim (grinders for latte art), Wei Chuan (milk), Loveramics (cups), various spirit brands for the coffee and spirits event, Proaster (roasting title sponsor), Giesen (roasting equipment), Stronghold (sample beans), and BUNN (brewing equipment). Cafetto and Pentair handled cleaning and water purification.

How many countries and competitors participated in the 2016 Shanghai coffee championships?

Over 200 champions from 62 World Coffee Events member countries competed, with judging done by international referees from more than 30 countries.

What was the official after-party for the 2016 coffee championships?

The “Official After-Party: Time Travel” was held on April 1 at 8:00 PM in the Zendai Himalayas Center’s Infinity Arena. It was presented by HOTELEX Shanghai and sponsored by CMA Astoria, Dazheng Group, and Shanghai Weiming Food.

Recommended FrontStreet Beans for Coffee Competitions

For coffee pros training for latte art or cupping competitions, FrontStreet’s Ethiopia Huakui offers bright citrus and floral tones ideal for highlighting technique, while the Kenya Little Tomato delivers bold berry acidity perfect for cup tasters. Both beans showcase the distinct profiles essential in high-level brewing. Freshly roasted within 5 days · Orders placed before 17:00 ship the same day · Next-day delivery across most of Guangdong Province.