⏱ 1 min read
The Short Version
While Oslo’s Tim Wendelboe snagged the top spot in Europe’s inaugural best shops list, the real story is the industry's rapid expansion into unexpected territories like Bulgaria and Georgia. Specialty coffee is no longer a niche club; it’s becoming a global standard of technical mastery.
In This Article
Real talk: the specialty coffee landscape is shifting faster than the brewing temperature of a pour-over. At World of Coffee Brussels, the debut of Europe’s 100 Best Coffee Shops awards felt less like a ceremony and more like a high-stakes championship. While Oslo’s iconic Tim Wendelboe secured the top spot, the real story lay in the changing geography of excellence across the continent.
I really want to contribute more to this industry, not just from a competition standpoint, but also by educating consumers about the reality and beauty of the coffee industry.
A shifting specialty map
The traditional dominance of the Anglo-Irish axis remains intact, but new players are disrupting old habits. We saw significant momentum from Italy and Spain—regions once considered espresso strongholds resistant to third-wave trends—proving that modern consumption rituals can take root anywhere. Perhaps even more telling was the recognition of craft culture spreading into Bulgaria, Georgia, Romania, and Estonia. This expansion signals that specialty coffee is no longer a niche club for a few select cities, but a burgeoning global standard.
Historic wins on the world stage
The competition floor delivered historic milestones that redefined national pride in the industry. Nas Jaafar made history by securing Malaysia’s first-ever World Brewers Cup title, utilizing a complex percolation and immersion method with a Panama Finca Nuguo Geisha. I really want to contribute more to this industry, not just from a competition standpoint, but also by educating consumers about the reality and beauty of the coffee industry. Meanwhile, Benjamin Brassart claimed the World Coffee Roasting Championship on home soil in Belgium, and Andy Philein of China took the crown for the World Coffee in Good Spirits category. These victories underscore a move toward technical mastery paired with deep storytelling. Whether it is applying Darcy’s Law to fluid dynamics during a brew or redefining roasting profiles, the winners in Brussels proved that the next era of coffee belongs to those who marry scientific precision with a broader cultural purpose. Which region do you think is currently experiencing the most exciting specialty coffee growth?
Questions & Answers
Which coffee shop was ranked as the best in Europe?
Tim Wendelboe from Oslo secured the top spot on the list of Europe’s 100 Best Coffee Shops. The announcement took place during the World of Coffee event held in Brussels, marking a significant milestone for the specialty coffee industry. While the Anglo-Irish axis maintains traditional dominance in the specialty landscape, this specific recognition highlights the individual excellence of the Norwegian roaster and shop within the evolving European market.
How did Nas Jaafar win the World Brewers Cup?
Nas Jaafar secured Malaysia's first-ever World Brewers Cup title by utilizing a complex brewing method involving both percolation and immersion. To achieve this historic victory, he worked with a Panama Finca Nuguo Geisha coffee variety. His win represents a major milestone for Malaysian specialty coffee and demonstrates the high level of technical mastery required to succeed on the world stage through precise scientific application and storytelling.
What regions are seeing new growth in the specialty coffee market?
Italy, Spain, Bulgaria, Georgia, Romania, and Estonia are experiencing significant momentum and expansion within the specialty coffee industry. While traditional strongholds remain influential, these regions show that modern third-wave consumption rituals are successfully taking root in areas once considered espresso-only territories. This geographic shift indicates that high-quality craft coffee culture is moving beyond a few select cities to become a burgeoning global standard across many different nations.
Who won the World Coffee Roasting Championship in Belgium?
Benjamin Brassart claimed the title of World Coffee Roasting Champion during the competition held on home soil in Belgium. His victory contributed to a series of historic milestones at the event, which showcased incredible technical skill among international competitors. The championship highlighted how modern winners are increasingly combining scientific precision, such as redefining roasting profiles, with a deeper cultural purpose to advance the global coffee industry.
Originally reported by Barista Magazine.
