Starbucks celebrates ten years of the LAC Barista Championship

Bringing together passion, skill and connection, Starbucks celebrated the grand finale of the tenth edition of LAC Barista Championship at the National Convention Centre in San José, Costa Rica. For a decade, this competition has honoured the artistry, human connection and dedication of Starbucks partners throughout Latin America and the Caribbean. As part of their championship journey, partners also visited Hacienda Alsacia, Starbucks first company-operated coffee farm and global agronomy headquarters, to experience coffee from seed to cup and connect with the brand’s roots in coffee innovation.

This year, Edson Rodríguez from Mexico was crowned 2025 LAC Barista Champion, standing out for their exceptional technique, creativity and ability to connect with others through coffee. Also recognized were María from Costa Rica and Sebastián from Puerto Rico, who impressed the judges with their innovation and skill. In total, 18 national champions representing markets across the region gathered in Costa Rica, a market that embodies the brand’s deep coffee heritage, to showcase their talent and celebrate ten years of passion, connection and growth.

Throughout a full day of competition, the national champions were evaluated through a series of rounds designed to test their coffee knowledge, creativity and technical expertise. Early challenges included coffee tastings paired with storytelling, where participants demonstrated their understanding of coffee origins, ethical sourcing and C.A.F.E. Practices through randomly selected topics, along with a store-rush simulation, blind coffee tasting and a signature beverage creation.  The final round culminated in sharing their signature beverage and personal storytelling, followed by a latte-art challenge – where both the milk type and latte-art pattern were chosen at random – celebrating excellence in coffee craft, connection and creativity.

“The LAC Barista Championship is a celebration of everything Starbucks stands for in our region: passion, talent and community,” said Ricardo Arias-Nath, svp, global coffee & tea, and president, Latin America and the Caribbean. “For ten years, this experience has honoured the craft of coffee and the partners behind it. It’s a powerful reminder that coffee connects us – from the farms where it’s grown to the moments our partners create in stores every day. This experience also fuels professional growth, strengthens our partner community and continues to show why Starbucks is the best job in retail.”

“Starbucks gave me the opportunity to connect with coffee for the first time and to discover that it’s not just a flavour, but a story. More than a competition, this experience felt like a family journey, where you learn from everyone and are enriched by each person. From the very first moment, our partners made me feel at home, with a deep sense of belonging. Today, I feel proud to represent not only my country but all of Latin America and the Caribbean,” said Edson Rodríguez from Starbucks Mexico.