Meet Phoebe: our new 2025 EMEA Barista Champion!
Steam was rising, hearts were racing and anticipation was building – the 2025 EMEA Barista Championships were a whirlwind of emotion, energy and passion. Over three unforgettable days, 41 of Starbucks most skilled baristas gathered in London to put their talent to the test.
Now the confetti has settled, let’s get to know Phoebe Legras – our new EMEA Barista Champion from France.
Sniffs, sips and steady pours
“I can’t even believe I’m here,” Phoebe said, moments after being crowned the 2025 EMEA Barista Champion, “the moment I heard my name it felt like my heart stopped and I couldn’t feel my legs anymore, so I just fell to the floor – it was unbelievable.”
Emotions were running high. The final day of the EMEA Barista Championships raised the stakes with challenges that demanded precision, focus, and confidence.
“When you become EMEA Barista Champion, it’s not just for a day. When you go home, you’re promising to continue showing up as a Champion every day.”
Phoebe La
The first round put the barista’s taste buds to the test with a blind coffee tasting. The challenge wasn’t just in guessing the exact blend, it was in how each barista was able to describe and identify the complex flavour notes in each sip.
Joining the judging panel this year was Sumayyah Eid, our previous 2024 EMEA Barista Champion, representing Jordan. “I feel a huge sense of responsibility judging this year’s competition,” she said, “the next Champion needs to be someone who doesn’t just want to win the trophy, they’re willing to wear the apron with pride and spread their passion to others. When you become the EMEA Barista Champion, it’s not just for a day. When you go home, you’re promising to continue showing up as a Champion every day.”
“Their passion really shines through. It’s like hearing an artist talk about their canvas.”
“The judging criteria essentially breaks down the role of the barista through two lenses: storytelling and craft,” explained Becca Turner, Head Judge, “as well as their artistry we’re judging them on how well they’re able to connect with people over coffee. It’s been such a pleasure to hear this year’s Champions talk about what each coffee means to them on a personal level. Their passion really shines through. It’s like hearing an artist talk about their canvas.”
In the second round, a plinko board decided our Champions’ fate, telling them what they would be designing (a swan, tulip, heart, or the classic Rosetta shape) and which milk they would need to use (skimmed, whole, almond, or oat). Becca explained that milk makes all the difference when executing delicate latte art:
“If they get an Oat Milk that’s very high in protein so it will be very bubbly which is more of a challenge to work with than say, for example, a whole milk which has more fat content, making it easier to pour into a pattern.”
A dramatic finale
In the final round of the competition the stakes were raised again as the top three went head-to-head in a last effort to impress the judges and earn the purple apron. The finalists were tasked with hosting a coffee-tasting session with a coffee of their choice, creating two perfect lattes, and recreating their “signature beverage” – all while explaining to the judges, in their own words, what they believe “Back to Starbucks” means.
“For me Back to Starbucks means going home,” Phoebe explained to the judges, “it’s what makes us, us. It’s about people. It’s about human connection. That’s why Starbucks was created: that warm, welcoming place between home and work where everyone feels at ease. In a world where we move too fast and technology replaces conversation, Back to Starbucks means slowing down, breathing and remembering why we exist.”
“Starbucks is not just a coffeehouse. It’s craft, it’s quality in every detail, from bean to cup, from heart to heart.”
Phoebe
What comes next
In an exciting twist, judges announced the 10 partners who made it to the final will all be going on the Origin Experience next year – a once-in-a-lifetime journey to a coffee farm in Rwanda where they’ll get to see the “first 10 feet” of the Starbucks supply chain. But the surprises didn’t end there. The top three finalists will also be travelling to Seattle, the birthplace of Starbucks and our very first coffeehouse in Pike Place Market.
All the finalists have life-changing experiences ahead of them, but for Phoebe this is the beginning of an especially exciting new chapter as EMEA Barista Champion.
“Being a Starbucks partner means constantly trying to be better than you were yesterday. Starbucks is not just a coffeeshop. It’s craft, it’s quality in every detail, from bean to cup, from heart to heart,” she said, “I’m excited to be an ambassador for Starbucks and to share our coffee with pride and joy.”
Follow Phoebe’s journey as EMEA Barista Champion over on Instagram.
