About the Event

Interested in judging at the World Coffee Championships, or looking to sharpen your skills for Australian or international competition events?

The WCC Judge Skills Program (JSP), co-hosted by ASCA, is a hands-on pathway to becoming a confident, consistent, and well-calibrated competition judge. All course content is prepared directly through the World Coffee Championships (WCC) and facilitated by David Huang, an experienced world-level judge and WCC-certified representative.

Across two full days (16-18 hours), participants will break down competition rules, practice scoring, and calibrate their sensory and communication skills. This program is ideal for newcomers to judging, competitors seeking deeper insight into judging and feedback, and judges preparing for future world-level certification. No prior judging experience is required.

Please note: This is an educational program and includes a WCC Certificate of Participation. It is not a World Coffee Championships Judge Certification.

WHAT YOU'LL LEARN

WCC Foundations and Framework - Build an overall understanding of the World Coffee Championships and World Barista Championship mission, values, objectives, and competition format, including how these elements shape judging criteria and championship structure.

Rules, Regulations and Scoresheets - Gain a clear overview of WBC Rules & Regulations, judges’ competencies, and all relevant scoresheets, focusing on how to use the official language of the rules to record and interpret performances accurately.

Judging Roles and Competencies - Develop the ability to apply WBC judge competencies in practice, including working as part of a judging panel and, for experienced judges, progressing towards head judge responsibilities.

Using, Deliberating and Calibrating Scoresheets - Learn how to use scoresheets to record live performances, deliberate results with other judges, and comment-calibrate scores so that a panel can reach aligned, defensible outcomes using Rules & Regulations–based language.

Feedback, Debriefs and Communication - Practice debriefing baristas using clear, rules-based comments, including how to explain scoresheets, recognise competencies, and help diffuse difficult conversations while maintaining professional standards.​

FAQ's:

What’s Included? Course fees include instruction from an experienced world representative, support from the ASCA team, competition-ready baristas, use of a fully equipped venue with all required equipment and coffees, printed learning materials, and daily lunches and snacks.

All participants receive a WCC Certificate of Participation, with all relevant association fees included in the program cost.

Who Is This For? Whether you’re curious about how judging and competitions work, or you’re seeking competition-ready insight into what judges look for, this program is designed for you.

The JSP is tailored for:

• Aspiring ASCA or WCC judges (beginner to intermediate level)
• Competitors looking to better understand competition formats, scoresheets, and feedback
• Trainers, organisers, and national representatives aiming to align with global judging standards

How Is This Taught? The WCC Judge Skills Program is delivered through:

• Expert demonstrations by head judges modelling precise techniques and Rules & Regulations terminology
• Guided, hands-on practice with direct instructor support
• Realistic role-play in a simulated café environment, featuring live barista routines and dedicated espresso stations (1 station per 8–10 participants)
• Digital learning using World Barista Championship YouTube content and structured research

All sessions are conducted in small groups to ensure personalised feedback and competition-ready learning.

ABOUT THE INSTRUCTOR:

David Huang brings over two decades of specialty coffee experience, spanning independent and multi-site café operations, as well as the launch of multiple espresso bars and roasteries since 2006. He has trained hundreds of baristas and roasters, mentored multiple national champions and finalists, and remains actively involved as a volunteer, coach, and judge within the global coffee community.

His competition highlights include:

• NZ Barista Championship Finalist (2006–2010), Auckland Regional Winner (2009 & 2010)
• NZ Latte Art Championship Finalist (2007)
• Trans-Tasman Barista Team Member (2008–2010)

David has served as:

• NZ National Barista Judge & Latte Art Judge (since 2010)
• SCAA-certified IDP Training Instructor (since 2011)
• NZ HSI Workplace Assessor (since 2010)

He has also contributed extensively to industry governance through the NZ Barista Guild Committee (2016–2019) and the NZ Specialty Coffee Association Board (2020–2023), receiving the Ongoing Contribution Award in 2023.

As a WCC-certified Championship Representative and Sensory Judge, David has officiated at World Coffee Championship events including:

World Barista Championship (WBC)

• 2017 Seoul
• 2018 Amsterdam
• 2022 Melbourne
• 2023 Athens
• 2024 Busan
• 2025 Milan

World Latte Art Championship (WLAC)

• 2023 Taipei

David’s depth of experience, clarity of instruction, and commitment to judging excellence make him an ideal facilitator for the ASCA WCC Judge Skills Program.

Event Speakers

Event Sponsors