October 26, 2025
Jack Simpson has been crowned the 2025 World Barista Champion, delivering one of the most precise espresso courses the competition has seen. As part of his routine, Jack achieved a Perfect 6.00 score in the espresso category — a rare result that has only been awarded once before in WBC history. The achievement highlights both the quality of his coffee and the level of intention at every stage of his preparation.
The espresso category is judged on aroma, flavor, tactile experience, and overall harmony. A score of 6.00 represents the highest expression of these elements working together. The only other time this score has been awarded was in 2016, making Jack the second competitor to reach this standard. Coincidentally, both occasions featured coffees produced by Jamison Savage of Finca Deborah in Panama.
For his winning espresso, Jack used Aether, produced by Jamison Savage at Finca Deborah. The coffee underwent carbonic maceration as a natural process, finished as a washed, with an additional innovation: Argon gas was used during fermentation, through a direct collaboration between Jack and Jamison.
The use of Argon — an inert gas — helped preserve delicate volatile compounds, slow oxidation, and maintain clarity in the cup. Rather than selecting a coffee and adapting to it, the process here was cooperative. The result was a coffee developed specifically with competition goals in mind.
Beyond the coffee itself, Jack focused on consistency and structure in extraction. His routine reflected careful control of:
Roasting - Matt Crowley, 2 Time WBC roaster, Jakcs and has been working in the competition for over a decade
Water composition - replicating as close as possible to the competion water back in Melbourne
Distribution techniques, BH AutoComb, Vibration bed for even extraction
He also incorporated Waved technology, which uses electromagnetic modulation to influence extraction behavior. This approach reflects a broader shift in modern competition: precision is no longer limited to brewing parameters alone, but includes how energy interacts with the coffee throughout the process.
For service, Jack used the Toto cup, which was originally developed with Hugh Kelly (two-time WBC finalist) and later refined alongside the team at Ni Wares. The cup was designed to support clarity and tactile balance, particularly in high-level espresso service. In this context, the cup was not a feature of the presentation, but one small part of a larger chain of decisions aimed at preserving flavor and structure for the judges.
Jack went on to win the final by a margin of more than 25 points — a significant result at this level of competition. While his Perfect 6 espresso was a key highlight, the overall routine was consistent across all categories, reflecting a well-rounded performance rather than a single standout element.
Jack’s result represents an important moment in competition coffee for a few reasons:
It shows what is possible when producers and competitors collaborate from the start.
It highlights how innovation — from processing to extraction — can support flavor, rather than distract from it.
It reinforces that excellence in competition still depends on fundamentals: clarity, balance, and intention.
The Perfect 6 is noteworthy, but it is just one part of a much larger story of preparation and teamwork.
To understand the context of this achievement, it is worth watching:
Both performances reflect different eras of competition, but share a common thread: attention to detail and respect for the coffee.
Although the Perfect 6 will be noted in history, Jack’s routine was not built around chasing scores. His focus was on the responsibility baristas carry — to honour producers, represent coffee truthfully, and approach every decision with care. His presentation centred on collaboration across the supply chain and a respect for every hand involved in creating a coffee.
Still, competition moments become markers in time. And alongside the message he delivered, Jack will be remembered for producing one of the most precise espressos ever scored on the WBC stage — a result that reflected the same values he spoke about throughout his routine: intention, respect, and connection at every step.
