The Barista League Revolutionizes Coffee Competitions: A Creative and Accessible Approach to Excellence
The coffee world is about to get a lot more exciting. The Barista League (TBL) has unveiled a groundbreaking competition redesign for 2026, transforming the landscape of specialty-coffee competitions with a creativity-first focus and global reach. For over a decade, coffee competitions have remained structurally stagnant. But now, TBL is shaking things up, emphasizing creativity, genuine service, and accessible excellence in its new format. This change reflects the industry's growing desire for competitions that value the story and experience behind a drink as much as the drink itself. The new structure revolves around three pillars—Concept, Service, and Product—with an emphasis…