The Barista League held its inaugural Latin American competition in Mexico City, expanding its global tour and introducing a redesigned event format to the region. The competition, which took place at the Foro Indie Rocks venue, concluded with local baristas Karla Bravo and Victor Granados being named champions.
A significant change in the competition is a new scoring system where service and concept account for 62% of a team's final score. In a departure from more traditional, technically-focused contests, judges interact with competitors as if they were café customers, engaging in conversation during the service. The event was structured as a day-long festival, featuring a 'Roasters Village' with coffee companies from across Mexico and a separate stage for industry panels and discussions.
This format shift reflects a growing industry emphasis on customer experience and hospitality alongside beverage quality. The winning team was noted for its focus on Mexican-sourced ingredients and a warm, accessible service style. According to participants, the structure provides more creative freedom and ensures a level playing field by having all teams use the same provided equipment and supplies, focusing the evaluation on the service concept itself.