Africa Barista Championship
About the Africa Barista Championship
The Africa Barista Championship is a regional barista competition that takes place at the African Fine Coffees Conference and Exhibition each year. Prior to the championship, national competitions take place in AFCA member countries, independently organized by AFCA or in partnership with local coffee organizations.
The Africa Barista Championship is an opportunity for African nationals to compete at a continental level. At each national competition, the top three highest scoring baristas are nominated to compete for the regional title at the conference. In African countries where national competitions do not take place, competitors may be nominated to AFCA for a chance to compete. Nominations will be reviewed by a committee and notified prior to the competition.
Note: The Africa Barista Championship is for African nationals only. Competitors are expected to use coffee produced in Africa.
2024-2025 in Review
AFCA hosted the Africa Barista Championship from February 26-27, 2025 in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania during the 21st African Fine Coffees Conference and Exhibition. A total of 22 baristas from 12 African countries competed over two days. Competitors were scored according to the World Barista Championship (WBC) Protocol by a panel of regional and international judges.
Prior to the competition, AFCA and partners hosted the inaugural ‘Africa Barista Bootcamp’ in Dar es Salaam, bringing together baristas and trainers for two-days of interactive learning, exchange, and practice time.
This year’s Top 3 winners are listed below.
Looking Ahead
The Africa Barista Championship is scheduled to take place in February 2026 at the African Fine Coffees Conference & Exhibition in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.
How To Get Involved
For interested partners, sponsors, or potential judges, please contact AFCA at secretariat@afca.coffee.
Winners - Africa Barista Championship 2025
Name: Stevo Kühn
Country: South Africa
As a qualified teacher and a coffee lover, I immediately fell in love with the ability coffee has to not only bring people together, but also to make positive change in people’s lives and their communities. In my career I’ve had incredible opportunities to learn from the best and now I seek avenues to share knowledge and experiences with other coffee professionals.
With a true passion for coffee excellence and a people centric approach, I can take any coffee program to the next level. I am an Authorised Specialty Trainer (AST) with the SCA in Barista, Brewing and Sensory modules and always seeking new avenues to grow both professionally and personally.
I’ve been a competitor at the World Barista Competition in ‘21 (Milan) and ‘23 (Athens) representing South Africa and have also received awards for Trainer of the Year, Dedication to Education and Excellence in Coffee at the Annual Coffee Magazine Awards. As a coach, I have had the opportunity to train national competitors in Kenya, Saudi Arabia, South Africa and India.
Currently, I am training as an independent trainer and also consult for companies on all things coffee.If you would like to reach out and work together, please contact me on my social platform (@stevobrewscoffee) where I would be happy to pick up conversation with you and your company.
Name: Ibrahim Kiganda
Country: Uganda
Ibrahim Kiganda is the processing manager of Mountain Harvest, a Ugandan company with a mission to challenge the status quo of Uganda’s coffee production, towards a more equitable and sustainable for all. He leads processing innovations, leading Mountain Harvest’s efforts to understand coffee best practices within Uganda's context. He is the current Ugandan National Barista Champion, headed to the World’s in October, furthering his quest to change the narrative of Ugandan coffee.
Name: Teresia Maina
Country: Kenya
I am an accomplished coffee professional with over eight years of expertise in barista training, roasting, and mentorship within the specialty coffee industry. Currently serving as the Head Trainer, Coffee Lab Assistant, and Roaster at The East African School of Coffee, I have designed and implemented comprehensive training programs, encompassing foundational to advanced barista skills, brewing techniques, and customer service excellence.
I hold advanced certifications from the Specialty Coffee Association in Barista and Roasting skills, which have equipped me with extensive knowledge in coffee preparation, training methodologies, and quality control. My competitive achievements include winning the 2024 Kenya National Barista Championship, securing 1st runner-up in 2023, 1st runner-up in the Africa Barista Championship 2024, and 2nd runner-up at AFCA 2025.
Renowned for my communication skills, mentorship approach, and dedication to fostering a positive learning environment, I am committed to developing the next generation of skilled baristas. I aim to contribute my expertise to a dynamic coffee establishment, elevating operational standards, enhancing customer experiences, and promoting excellence in specialty coffee.
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