Gabrel Tan finishes fourth at 2026 World Barista Championship – BeanScene
Australia’s Gabrel Tan has finished fourth at the 2026 World Barista Championship (WBC) in Panama, as China’s Pan Wei claimed the world title.
The current Australian Barista Champion, from Veneziano Coffee Roasters in Melbourne, progressed through the opening round and 16-competitor semi-final before earning his place among the final six on 25 October 2026.
Pan Wei, from China, was crowned the 2026 World Barista Champion, ahead of Shing Win of Malaysia in second place and Frederick Ruben of the United Arab Emirates in third.
2026 World Barista Championship final standings:
- Pan Wei – China
- Shing Win – Malaysia
- Frederick Ruben – United Arab Emirates
- Gabrel Tan – Australia
- Jane Kawinnart – Thailand
- Jill Hoff – Canada
The result completes Gabrel’s first World Barista Championship campaign after earning the opportunity to represent Australia by winning the 2026 Australian Barista Championship.
His road to the national title had been years in the making. Prior to claiming the Australian crown, Gabrel had finished runner-up at the national championship in 2022, third in 2023, and runner-up again in 2024 and 2025.
At the WBC in Panama, his competition concept, “The Power of Recognition”, explored the contrast between Panama’s established reputation for specialty coffee and the emerging potential of Indonesia.
He presented a washed Geisha from Finca Lérida in Boquete, Panama, produced by Maria Amoruso, for his espresso course. For his milk course, he used a Kartika from Finca Ali in Semendo, South Sumatra, Indonesia, produced by Raymond Ali.
He then brought those coffees together for his signature course, adding Koji-fermented tree tomato to the Finca Lérida coffee to deliver notes of blood orange and pink guava. Indonesian cacao husk and cherry-infused water then transformed the cherry notes of the Finca Ali coffee into new flavours of raspberry and rose water.
His fourth-place finish also comes one year after fellow Australian Jack Simpson won the 2025 World Barista Championship.
Jack, from Axil Coffee Roasters, worked with Gabrel on his competition routine and was in Panama supporting him during the event.
In a fitting passing of the torch, Jack was on stage to present the WBC trophy to new champion Pan Wei.
Pan Wei entered the championship with 12 years of experience in the coffee industry and the same length of experience competing. He is a two-time China Barista Champion and was representing China at the WBC for the second time. He also runs his own coffee brand and roastery in Hangzhou, China.
See the finals presentation here:
Source: Bean Scene Mag