The body, which promotes and showcases excellence in the global coffee industry, holds competitions such as the World Barista Championships (WBC) and World Latte Art Championships (WLAC) allow professional baristas to demonstrate their high-level skills and coffee expertise. However, the organisation has come under fire for 'banning' plant-based milks. The rules are very clear.
The 2021 WBC Official Rules and Regulations state that competitors must produce a "milk beverage" containing "one single shot of espresso... [and] steamed cow's milk". The rules also state that competitors can be provided with only "whole milk".
Similarly, the 2021 WLAC Official Rules and Regulations state competitors "are required to use the milk provided by the WLAC". This is also exclusively cow's milk.
