05/05 | London

  • London

DO YOU WANT TO BE ON THE WAITING LIST?

**Read our competitor & judge data handling policy
SCA-UKBC-2024-BRISTOL-008
UK Barista Championship
The UK Barista Championship is the UK’s most prestigious coffee event, gathering the brightest talent in the industry to push boundaries and inspire each other. It’s a celebration of excellence, recognised across the coffee community for its role in driving innovation.
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OUR SPONSORS

SCA UKBC 2026 Competition Heats Format

With only 14 places available per heat, we expect these to fly. Set your alarms! ⏰

The Release Schedule (7pm Daily):
•⁠ ⁠London: Thursday 09/04
•⁠ ⁠Manchester: Friday 10/04
•⁠ ⁠Bristol: Saturday 11/04
•⁠ ⁠Edinburgh: Sunday 12/04

The Semi Finals & Finals will take place in London on 15th & 16th July at Lock Warehouse in Hoxton, 29 -32 The Oval, London, E2 9DT.

⚠️ Essential Info for Competitors:

📍 Venue Details: We are updating the website ahead of Thursday to include full format and venue information.
💻 The Drop: The ‘Add to Cart’ button appears at 7pm sharp. You must manually refresh your page to see it!
🎟 Strict Limit: One ticket per competitor. Multiple people attempting to purchase for one competitor is strictly prohibited and may result in entry being refused.
🚫 Commitment: Tickets are non-transferable. Ensure you select the correct heat, as you cannot swap later.

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Baristas will be required to prepare; 2 Espresso, 2 Milk Beverages & 2 Signature Beverages, following the same format we adopted in the UKBC heats last year. This is to help baristas prepare for the UKBC semi-finals and finals, and ultimately, the World Barista Final.

The competition heats will comprise of:

•⁠ ⁠30 minutes off-stage practice
•⁠ ⁠10 minutes stage preparation
•⁠ ⁠10 minutes competition
•⁠ ⁠5 minutes clean up

The UKBC 2026 heats will follow the 2025 WBC Rules albeit with two, rather than four of each beverage, in ten minutes total.

The espresso machines being used on stage at the heats are Dalla Corte Zero Barista 3 Group. The machine grouphead temperature will be set to 93 °C during the heats. For the Semi-finals/finals the grouphead temperature can be modified if requested before the start of the competition day.

The sponsored grinder is the Ceado REV ZERO and REV TITAN

A PuqPress auto tamper will be provided for competitors to use. As this will be present on stage at all times, it will not count towards the competitors' 2 electrical items limit.

Competitors must bring their own crockery and additional equipment.

Sponsor Equipment

Espresso Machine: Dalla Corte Zero Barista - 3 Group (58mm grouphead)
Espresso Grinder: Ceado REV ZERO and REV TITAN
AutoTamp: PUQPRESS PRO

SCA Membership

SCA Membership is not mandatory for competitors or judges. But if you want, you can check your membership status by heading over to the SCA Global portal.

Competitor Data Handling

By ticking the box and purchasing a ticket you agree to our Competitor Information Handling Policy, which includes the following:

  • Contact and Responsiveness: You authorise us to use the contact information provided to communicate with you regarding all aspects of the competition, including but not limited to, scheduling, rules, and updates. Failure to respond to communications within a reasonable timeframe, as determined by the competition organisers, may result in adjustments to your participation, including, but not limited to, cancellation or transfer of your place to a waiting list participant.
  • Sponsor Communication: You understand that our sponsors may require specific information to provide support, logistics, and promotional materials related to the competition. Whilst we do not routinely share all competitor details, we may share relevant information, such as contact details for product-related communications, addresses for material delivery, or information necessary for logistical coordination.
  • Public Display of Information: You consent to the use of your name, company information, and competition results in marketing and communications related to the event, including potential display on live streams, event screens, and post-event publications.
  • Photography and Videography: You grant us and our sponsors the right to capture and utilise photographs and video footage of you during the competition, including during performances and judging. This material may be used for marketing, promotional, and educational purposes by SCA UK and our sponsors, both during and after the competition.
  • Data Retention and Rights: Your data will be stored securely and retained for a period necessary to fulfil the purposes outlined in this policy and to comply with legal obligations. You have the right to request access to, rectification, or erasure of your personal data, subject to applicable data protection laws.
  • Rule Adherence: Participation in the competition implies acceptance of and adherence to the official competition rules, as published on the SCA UK website.
  • Liability: To the fullest extent permitted by law, SCA UK and its sponsors shall not be liable for any loss, damage, or injury arising from participation in the competition, except in cases of negligence or wilful misconduct.”