Indonesian Barista Achieves Historic Third Place in World Brewers Cup 2024

Indonesian barista Ryan Wibawa made history on Sunday, April 14, 2024, by placing third in the World Brewers Cup 2024 competition held in Chicago, USA. This marks the first time an Indonesian representative has reached the top three since the competition began in 2011.

Wibawa, known as a Coffee Professional, represented Indonesia after winning the national Indonesia Brewers Cup 2023 competition in December. He brought three types of Indonesian coffee to the competition, including Windy Ridge Geisha, El Diviso Ombligon, and Sukawangi Excelsad from Sumedang, West Java.

The theme of Wibawa's coffee presentation was 'harmony from diversity', inspired by Indonesia's national motto 'Bhineka Tunggal Ika' (Unity in Diversity). It reflected the diverse backgrounds of people in the coffee industry, from farmers to baristas to coffee enthusiasts.

Why this matters: Wibawa's achievement is seen as an inspiration for the Indonesian coffee industry and baristas to pursue greater accomplishments in the future. It highlights the diversity and quality of Indonesian specialty coffee on the global stage.

Wibawa had four months to prepare for the competition, focusing on selecting the right coffee blend and perfecting his brewing techniques. He was supported by a strong team from Common Grounds and received coaching from 2018 World Brewers Cup champion Emi Fukahori.

The competition was won by Brewel from Austria, followed by Wataru Lidaka from Japan. In addition to Indonesia, representatives from Australia, France, and the Czech Republic also reached the final round.

Mira Yudhawati, the Chief Operating Officer for Neumann Kaffee Gruppe in Indonesia and a Q grader, expressed pride in Wibawa's achievement. "Ryan's achievement has made the Indonesian coffee industry proud," she said.

The Indonesian Pavilion at the Specialty Coffee Expo (SCE) in Chicago showcased various types of Indonesian specialty coffee. The participation was a collaborative effort between the government, Bank Indonesia, banks, and Indonesian coffee businesses and associations, aiming to strengthen Indonesia's branding as a producer of high-quality specialty coffee beans in response to the rapid development of the global coffee industry.

Besides Wibawa's success in the World Brewers Cup, Indonesia also sent Rifky Maulana to compete in the 2024 World Cup Tasters Championship. The previous best result for Indonesia was a fifth-place finish by John Christopher in the 2022 World Brewers Cup.

Key Takeaways

• Indonesian barista Ryan Wibawa placed 3rd in the 2024 World Brewers Cup.
• Wibawa represented Indonesia, bringing 3 local coffee varieties to the competition.
• Wibawa's achievement is seen as inspiring for the Indonesian coffee industry.
• Indonesia also sent Rifky Maulana to the 2024 World Cup Tasters Championship.
• The Indonesian Pavilion at the Specialty Coffee Expo showcased local specialty coffee.