From Third Place to Champion: How Jack Simpson's WBC Win Reminds Us Why Specialty Coffee Matters
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Hello Caffeinated Humans!
October brought us an incredible moment in the coffee world. At HostMilano in Milan, we witnessed something that reminded us of everything we believe in at 787 Coffee—and we wanted to share it with YOU. We are grateful for every caffeinated human who understands that coffee is more than a morning ritual; it's an experience that changes lives. This story is about persistence, passion, and the kind of precision that transforms ordinary coffee into something extraordinary. And it's YOUR story too.
Here is what makes Jack Simpson's 2025 World Barista Championship victory so inspiring for our 787 Coffee community.
Let's do this.
The Road to Glory: How a Melbourne Barista Became the World's Best
Jack Simpson's journey to the world stage is the kind of story that reminds us why specialty coffee matters. After finishing third in the 2023 World Barista Championship, many competitors might have felt discouraged. Instead, Jack came back stronger. In 2024, he claimed runner-up, narrowly missing the title—but he was close. He could taste it.
In 2025, competing at HostMilano in Milan alongside 50 national champions from around the globe, Jack Simpson finally did it. He didn't just win—he dominated, scoring nearly 20 points higher than the runner-up with a commanding performance that showcased years of training, refinement, and an obsessive attention to detail that any specialty coffee lover can appreciate.
This is the third Australian to win in recent years, joining Anthony Douglas (2022) and barista legends Sasa Sestic (2015) and Paul Bassett (2003). Australia has now tied Denmark's world-leading record of four WBC titles, cementing the country as a global coffee powerhouse.
But Jack's story goes deeper than competition scores and trophy plaques.
The Coffee Behind the Champion: Why Sourcing Matters
What really moves us about Jack's victory is what he used to win: exceptional coffee from exceptional producers. Jack paid special tribute to his coffee suppliers, Jamison Savage and Jonathan Gasca, crediting them as partners in his success. He competed with Panamanian coffee from Finca Deborah and Colombian coffee from Finca Zarza—single-origin, specialty-grade beans handled with the kind of care and precision that transforms a coffee farm into a legacy.
This is exactly why 787 Coffee exists.
We don't just sell coffee. We partner with farmers in Puerto Rico, Colombia, and Mexico to bring you coffee that tells a story. Our own Hacienda Iluminada in Maricao, Puerto Rico, represents the same philosophy that drives Jack Simpson: that every single bean matters, that the journey from farm to cup shapes the experience in your hand, and that when you care about the coffee you consume, you care about something bigger than yourself.
Jack's victory is a reminder that nano lots, traceable sourcing, and direct relationships with coffee producers aren't just trendy concepts—they're the foundation of exceptional coffee. They're the reason his espresso sang in that Milan competition hall, and they're the reason our customers keep coming back to 787 Coffee shops in New York City, El Paso, and Puerto Rico for the best coffee experience possible.
What We Can Learn From a World Champion
Jack Simpson's three-year journey to the WBC trophy teaches every coffee lover something essential: excellence is a process, not a destination.
1. Consistency Compounds — Jack didn't win by trying something completely different in 2025. He won by refining what he'd learned from two previous competitions, adjusting, improving, and committing to the fundamentals of exceptional coffee-making. The same applies to your daily cup: find great coffee, master one brewing method, and taste how your skills deepen over time.
2. Your Coffee Producers Are Your Partners — Champions don't emerge from generic, mass-market beans. Jack's victory was built on relationships with thoughtful coffee farmers who obsess over quality as much as he does. When you choose specialty coffee from known sources—like our Puerto Rican nano lots or our ethically sourced Colombian and Mexican offerings—you're supporting that same ecosystem of excellence.
3. Mastery Matters in a Noisy World — In 2025, anyone can make an espresso. But not everyone can make THE espresso. Jack's near-perfect score reflects the kind of precision and artistry that comes from thousands of hours of practice, attention to detail, and deep knowledge of how coffee behaves. Our baristas at 787 Coffee shops across NYC, El Paso, and Puerto Rico train with this same philosophy—because you deserve coffee made by people who actually care about every variable.
Celebrating Excellence in the Coffee Community
What moves us most about Jack Simpson's win isn't just the trophy—it's what it represents for the global coffee community. The World Barista Championship brings together 50+ national champions competing at the highest level, and every single one of them has dedicated their lives to this craft.
The 2025 WBC brought together 51 national champions from across the world, each representing their country's unique coffee identity and innovation. That's the coffee world at its finest: a global community united by a shared obsession with creating something beautiful in a cup.
At 787 Coffee, we're part of this movement. We're expanding beyond our flagship locations in NYC, El Paso, and Puerto Rico into Houston and Mexico City. Our goal is to reach 100 coffee shops worldwide—not to dominate the market, but to build a community of caffeinated humans who understand that coffee is more than caffeine. It's connection, creativity, and consciousness about where your coffee comes from.
How to Experience Championship-Level Coffee Today
Jack Simpson's victory is inspiring, but here's the beautiful truth: you don't need to compete at HostMilano to experience world-class coffee. You can start today.
Visit a 787 Coffee Shop:
Best Coffee Shop in New York City — Experience farm-to-cup excellence at our NYC locations, where our baristas are trained with the same precision Jack brings to competition.
Best Coffee Shop in El Paso — Discover specialty coffee sourced from our Puerto Rican farm and imported direct from Colombia and Mexico.
Best Coffee Shop in Puerto Rico — Walk the Hacienda Iluminada coffee farm in Maricao, sip coffee roasted steps from where it was grown, and reconnect with the origin story behind every bag.
Bring Championship Coffee Home:
Not able to visit our shops? Order our specialty coffee beans online and experience the same quality Jack Simpson used to win the World Barista Championship. Our nano lots, single-origin roasts, and farm-fresh blends are available for home delivery. With 787 Coffee's monthly coffee subscription service, you'll never run out of exceptional coffee, and you'll taste how each month's offering evolves with the seasons and harvest cycles.
Whether you choose an Ethiopian pour-over, a Colombian nano lot, a Mexican single-origin espresso, or a Puerto Rican blend, every bag carries the same commitment to quality that drove Jack Simpson to the world stage. We source thoughtfully, roast with precision, and deliver freshness because we believe every caffeinated human deserves coffee that tastes like excellence.
Jack we have seen and followed YOUR evolution! We loved weeing you win! Thank you for being such a beautiful human. We cant wait to see the beautiful things that you will do and the many humans you will inspire.
Come visit us in New York and please come visit our coffee farm in Puerto Rico, Hacienda Iluminada.
The Bigger Picture: Why Specialty Coffee Matters Now More Than Ever
Jack Simpson's victory arrives at a moment when the world needs more of what he represents: mastery, dedication to craft, respect for origins, and a commitment to doing things the right way even when it's harder.
Specialty coffee isn't a luxury. It's a statement. When you choose coffee from known producers, from farms you can trace, from roasters who care about every variable in the process, you're voting with your palate for a coffee industry built on relationships instead of commodities, on quality instead of volume, and on people instead of just profit.
That's what Jack Simpson's championship represents. That's what every bag of 787 Coffee represents.
Your Invitation: Join the Movement
Jack Simpson's journey from third place to world champion took three years of relentless refinement. Our journey to build the best specialty coffee experience in America—from our 50+ locations to our direct farm partnerships to our community-driven values—is ongoing too.
We're inviting you to join us.
Whether you're a coffee enthusiast looking to deepen your knowledge, a busy student in NYC needing the perfect study companion, someone in El Paso searching for the best specialty coffee around, or a traveler to Puerto Rico wanting to experience coffee at its origin, there's a seat for you at 787 Coffee.
Order your specialty coffee bags today and taste why champions choose quality. Visit a 787 Coffee shop and let our trained baristas craft your perfect cup. Subscribe to our monthly service and experience the evolution of coffee throughout the year.
Because at 787 Coffee, we believe the same thing Jack Simpson does: excellence in coffee is always worth the effort.
Be a caffeinated human. Be a conscious human. Be a human who knows where their coffee comes from.
Quick Links to Your Best Coffee Experience
Shop 787 Coffee Specialty Beans Online — Single-origin, nano lots, and farm-fresh blends from Puerto Rico, Colombia, and Mexico
Find Our Best Coffee Shops: New York City | El Paso | Puerto Rico | Houston (coming soon) | Mexico City (coming soon)
Subscribe to Our Monthly Coffee Service — Fresh specialty coffee delivered to your door
Visit Hacienda Iluminada — Experience Puerto Rico's finest coffee farm in Maricao
Learn More About Our Sourcing — From farm to cup, here's the story behind 787 Coffee
Be a CAFFEINATED HUMAN.
Be a creative human. Be a good human.
Be a NuevaYOL Caffeinated Human.
Visit your local 787 Coffee location and experience firsthand how we're implementing these innovations. Ask us about the origin of the coffee you're drinking. Try something new. Engage with our baristas about their craft. You'll taste the difference that HOST Milano-inspired innovation makes.
Explore our online shop at 787coffee.com to discover our carefully curated single-origin selections, new RTD innovations, and home brewing equipment that brings café-quality coffee to your kitchen.
Stay connected with 787 Coffee through our newsletter, Instagram, and social media to learn about new coffees arriving, special events, and behind-the-scenes stories from coffee farmers and roasters we partner with.
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Be a caffeinated human. Win the morning.