From a gaming-inspired championship presentation to a fifth-place finish at the World Barista Championship 2026 in Panama, Jane Kawinnart shares how embracing her individuality, creativity and own approach to coffee shaped her journey to the world stage.
In the world of competitive coffee, reaching the global stage takes years of dedication, practice and an ability to perform under pressure. But for Jane Kawinnart Veraworawet, the journey has also been about discovering her own identity, embracing creativity and understanding the connections that coffee creates.
Jane began her coffee career in Melbourne, Australia, in 2015. From starting out as a barista to becoming a beverage designer, café consultant and co-founder of Fika & Co., her journey has taken her to some of the world’s most prestigious coffee stages.
She made her World Barista Championship debut in Athens, Greece, in 2023, and returned to the global stage in 2026, finishing fifth at the championship in Panama.
Interestingly, her approach to competition draws inspiration from an unexpected place: gaming. Her presentation carried a message about learning from others without losing one’s individuality.
In this conversation with Curly Brew, Jane reflects on her journey, Thailand’s evolving coffee culture, the importance of storytelling, the people behind every cup, and what it takes to build a sustainable future for coffee professionals.
1. Every Coffee Journey Begins Somewhere
You started your coffee career in 2015. What first drew you to coffee, and what made you stay in this profession?
I started working as a barista in 2015. At first, coffee was simply a job, but the more I learned, the more I realised there was so much beyond making a good cup.
What kept me in coffee was actually the people. Coffee gave me opportunities to meet different people, listen to their stories, and build connections I might never have had otherwise.
Over time, I realised that coffee wasn’t just something I wanted to be good at. It was something I could use to connect with others, express myself, and keep growing as a person.
2. Thailand Through a Cup of Coffee
Thailand has a growing presence in the global coffee conversation. How would you describe its coffee culture, and what would you like the world to understand about Thai coffee?
I think Thailand has a very exciting coffee culture because we’re open to trying new things. You can find everything from traditional coffee to specialty cafés, creative beverages, and people who are really passionate about their craft.
We enjoy experimenting, but we also care about making people feel welcome.
I also think Thai coffee producers deserve more recognition. There’s so much effort going into improving quality, processing, and understanding what makes our coffee unique.
I hope more people will discover Thai coffee, not just for its flavours, but also for the people and stories behind it.
3. Gaming Meets Coffee: The Story Behind Your Championship Theme
Your championship presentation drew inspiration from gaming. What inspired this concept, and what message were you hoping to communicate?
I’ve loved playing games since I was young. When I started competing, I approached competitions almost like following a game tutorial. I looked at previous champions and tried to learn from what they did.
It worked to some extent, but eventually I realised I was so focused on following others that I wasn’t really finding my own way.
That’s where the gaming concept came from. Through my presentation, I wanted to show that we can learn from others without having to become someone else.
And I wanted to encourage people to bring something they genuinely enjoy outside coffee into their craft. Sometimes, that’s where we find our own creativity and identity.
4. When Coffee Becomes an Experience
Beyond technical skills and flavour profiles, how important is storytelling in creating a memorable coffee experience for customers?
For me, making good coffee is the foundation, but how we make people feel is just as important.
I enjoy storytelling because it gives people another way to connect with what they’re drinking. It doesn’t always have to be a complicated story. Sometimes it’s a simple conversation, a small detail, or something that makes someone curious.
As a barista, I want people to feel comfortable, included, and welcome to explore coffee in their own way.
They might not remember every flavour note I describe, but I hope they remember how they felt during the experience.
5. The People and Places Behind Every Cup
As baristas, we often focus on the final cup. How has working closely with coffee producers changed your understanding of what goes into it?
As baristas, we often receive the final product, but before it reaches us, so many decisions have already been made by producers, pickers, processors, and roasters.
Working with Janson Coffee for my competition helped me appreciate this even more. Every decision at the farm, from growing and picking to processing and drying, influences what we can eventually express in the cup.
I hope that people become a little more curious about where their coffee comes from and appreciate the people who make it possible.
6. What Is Changing in the World of Coffee?
With new brewing techniques, creative beverages and evolving consumer expectations, where do you see the coffee world heading?
What excites me most is how open coffee has become to creativity. We’re seeing new ideas, new techniques, and more people exploring coffee in their own ways.
But at the same time, I sometimes wonder if we’re making coffee more complicated than it needs to be.
Of course, innovation and technical knowledge are important. They’ve helped our industry grow so much. But I think we should also remember that coffee is something people drink and enjoy every day.
At Fika & Co., we believe good coffee should be approachable and accessible.
For me, progress isn’t only about making coffee more advanced. It’s also about making more people feel welcome to enjoy it.
7. The Reality Behind the Perfect Cup
Competitions often showcase the glamour of being a barista. What are some of the realities and challenges that people don’t usually see?
I think people often see the beautiful side of being a barista, especially through competitions. But behind that are many hours of practice, physical work, pressure, and mistakes that nobody sees.
I’ve been a barista since 2015, and one thing I’ve learned is that passion alone isn’t always enough to build a sustainable career.
Baristas need opportunities to grow, fair compensation, supportive working environments, and a future they can look forward to.
I also think we should recognise that being a great barista isn’t only about technical skills or winning competitions. Being able to take care of people, work with a team, and create a good everyday coffee experience is just as valuable.
8. Coffee, Climate and the Future of Farmers
Climate change is increasingly affecting coffee production around the world. What role do you think baristas, cafés and consumers can play in supporting coffee farmers?
I think climate change reminds us that coffee is an agricultural product, not just a beverage.
As baristas, we can adjust recipes, equipment, and techniques. But farmers are dealing with challenges that are much harder to control, especially changing weather and unpredictable harvests.
I believe we need to build stronger relationships between producers, roasters, cafés, and consumers.
For cafés and baristas, that can start with understanding where our coffee comes from, sharing producers’ stories, and recognising the value of their work.
And as consumers, being willing to pay a fair price for good coffee can also be part of supporting a more sustainable future.
9. What the World Championship Taught You About Coffee
Having competed on the world stage, what has the World Barista Championship taught you about coffee, people and the craft itself?
One thing I love about the World Barista Championship is seeing how differently people approach the same craft.
Everyone comes from a different background, with different experiences, ideas, and ways of expressing coffee. And that’s what makes the competition so interesting to me.
The competition has also taught me to pay more attention to the small details in making coffee. Sometimes, even the smallest adjustments can make a difference in the final cup.
It made me realise that there’s always something more to learn and improve.
10. Beyond Fifth Place: The Next Chapter
After securing fifth place at the World Barista Championship 2026, what’s next for you? What would you like to explore or achieve in the coming years?
This competition taught me that I don’t have to become someone else to achieve something meaningful.
For a long time, I thought improvement meant learning to do things the way successful people did. But this journey helped me understand that I can learn from others while still finding my own way.
I want to keep exploring coffee through creativity, storytelling, and experiences that connect people. I also want to share what I’ve learned with other baristas and continue growing together with the coffee community.
If I could change one thing about how people experience coffee, I don’t think I would change anything. Everyone has their own preferences and their own way of enjoying coffee.
A Final Thought: Finding Your Own Way
Jane’s journey is a reminder that success in coffee isn’t defined solely by competition rankings or technical achievements. It is also about the people we meet, the stories we share, the experiences we create and the willingness to keep discovering our own path.
Her perspective on making coffee approachable, recognising the people behind every cup and creating meaningful connections reflects an important thought: coffee is, at its heart, about bringing people together.
Because learning from the best doesn’t mean becoming someone else. Sometimes, the greatest achievement is finding your own way.
About Jane Kawinnart Veraworawet
Jane began her coffee career in Melbourne, Australia, in 2015. She is a co-founder of Fika & Co., a beverage designer and café consultant. She began competing in 2022 and made her World Barista Championship debut in Athens, Greece, in 2023. In 2026, she secured fifth place at the World Barista Championship in Panama.
Follow Jane: @jn_ | @fikaandcobkk
Acknowledgements
Jane extends her appreciation to her team for being part of her championship journey:
Fah Nirodha, Yessylia Violin, Mikael Jasin, Shaun Liew and Kai Janson.
Photography Credit
World Coffee Championships (WCC).
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