Did you know that the word "Barismo" is of Italian origin, coming from "bar" (cantina), and refers to a person's ability to prepare all kinds of drinks at the bar. Those who perform this profession were traditionally called "barista," which previously meant "bartender" (one who prepares alcoholic or non-alcoholic beverages such as coffee or espresso). Because over time, this term has become very familiar in the coffee industry due to the variety of ways to prepare this delicious beverage, it is currently used exclusively in coffee culture. Therefore, "Barista" refers to anyone who perfectly manages the "coffee bar," meaning an expert or specialist in making coffee-based beverages. It is a very artistic occupation, as many compete to perfect the flavor and appearance of a cup of coffee.

Since coffee schools already exist, which professionally certify their students, it can be said that a professional barista specializes in high-quality coffees and works to create new and diverse beverages using various types of coffee, essences, and liqueurs. They also specialize in beverage presentation and can complement their work with latte art, which consists of the skill a barista develops in creating figures on coffee. A good barista distinguishes different types of coffee, understands the roasting process, water quality, and different preparation methods, as well as continually recognizes the coffee-growing region and its growers. These concepts, dear reader, help us delve deeper into the topic of barista championships, events that are held annually, locally, regionally, nationally, and internationally.

It was in 2000, thanks to coffee courses, that baristas were recognized not only as specialists in different coffee preparations, but also for their creative, artistic, and investigative abilities. In addition to their extensive knowledge of preparing an excellent cup of coffee, they also demonstrate their ability to create new beverages and create coffee art.

It was in 2000 that the first World Barista Championship was held in Monte Carlo, Monaco. From that moment on, it was identified by the three-letter acronym "WBC," which indicates the championship's name in English: "World Coffee Events." The event has been repeated every year in a different country. For the first time, a Colombian, 31-year-old Diego Campos from Tolima, was crowned World Barista Champion at the tournament held in Milan, Italy, between October 22 and 26 of this year. The young barista attributed this triumph to coffee growers and companies dedicated to promoting Colombian coffee.

As I mentioned, the WBC has been held year after year since its inception. The first meeting featured 12 competitors from various countries, and since then, it has been ongoing, growing each year to the point where it has become the most important coffee event in the world. Only in 2020, due to COVID-19, the tournament, which Colombia hosted in 2011, was not held. It's important for you to know that the rules and regulations are not always the same. They are modified each year to increase the requirements and improve the models or patterns of the different preparations. For the 2016 event, significant changes were made. The new championship partner provided grinders for each competitor, and new models of espresso machines were introduced. Cappuccino was replaced with a milk-based beverage.

Every year, as the culmination of many local, regional, and national competitions around the world, more than 50 competitors—national champions—gather in the host country. Each must prepare four espressos, four lattes, and four original signature drinks to exacting standards in a 15-minute performance set to music. Judges, certified by World Coffee Events (WBC), the global corporation in charge of organizing the event, evaluate each performance based on the flavor of the drinks served, cleanliness, creativity, technical skill, and overall presentation. The 15 highest-scoring competitors from the first round, plus the wildcard winner from the team competition, advance to a semifinal round. The top six competitors from this round advance to the final round, from which one winner is crowned the World Barista Champion.

It is of utmost importance, dear reader, to address the barista's preparation for any type of competition, whether regional or global; the sacrifices are great and strictly required. The separation from family, work, and friends, plus the financial investment the barista must make, are all part of the enormous effort to become a world champion. Constant contact with growers and producers throughout the country is vital, as they have the greatest and most in-depth knowledge of everything related to coffee. Once the coffee is chosen, the competitor must experiment extensively to discover all the elements that make up the flavor, until they arrive at the perfect preparation.

Let's remember that for the World Championship, the rules are amended each year to raise the bar and perfect the drinks. All this with the goal of training excellent professional baristas for the event, who increasingly develop their ability to prepare four espressos, four lattes, and four designed drinks in 15 minutes at a workstation with a space specifically designated for preparation and a separate area for presentation to the judges, of which there are seven in total: four sensory judges, two technical judges, one lead judge, and, since 2016, a shadow judge, who doesn't always appear and is in charge of reviewing the presentation but doesn't award points.

Finally, let's congratulate professional barista Diego Campos, a Colombian from the department of Tolima, once again, as the 2021 World Barista Champion; it was long overdue for a South American producing country to have its world champion. Let's end with the words of another accomplished Colombian barista, referring to the great WBC: "The competition is exciting, rewarding, exasperating—a roller coaster of emotions. Representing a producing country is a huge responsibility, and the training of all the baristas is so perfect that even if there's only one winner, they're all champions."