Crossing the bench

John Ryan Ting is one of few baristas with experience on both sides of the competition table. Before becoming a certified World Barista Championship (WBC) judge – including at the 2013 WBC in Melbourne – he had two Singapore Barista Champion titles to his name.

John began his coffee journey as a part-time barista at a chain in the 1990s. After finishing his studies, he entered the profession full time with the Spinelli Coffee Company in 2003.

“I wasn’t really sure what I wanted to do, but I enjoyed coffee and knew I could make it well,” John says. “Then I discovered the WBC and made it my mission to compete.”

He took