How Jaimee Noh became Canada’s first World Barista Championship Tech Judge

As the 2026 SCA Brewer’s Cup approaches this Friday, we wanted to look back before we look ahead.

Late last year, De Mello’s Head Roaster, Jaimee Noh, stood on one of the most prestigious stages in specialty coffee as a Tech Judge at the 2025 World Barista Championship in Milan. She is also a Canada National Head Judge and notably, the first Canadian World Barista Championship Tech Judge.

This interview is based entirely on Jaimee’s personal experience. Every reflection, difficulty, and breakthrough shared here comes from her own journey. What follows is the first of three entries: Before, During, and After the World Stage.

Here, we begin at the beginning.

The Journey to Becoming a World Tech Judge

Q: When did you first dream of becoming a World Coffee Championships judge?

Before I even came to Canada.

In Korea, I admired one of the first Korean world judges who later became a leader in the SCA community. At the time, becoming a world judge felt distant and abstract. But when I moved to Canada, the dream felt a little closer.

There are many steps to becoming a world judge. So instead of focusing on the final title, I told myself something simple: if I am judging alongside people from around the world, that is already a world stage. That mindset helped me begin.

Q: Why did you choose to become a Technical Judge?

Language was a big reason.

Sensory judging requires listening, writing, and speaking at the same time while evaluating flavour. In English, that felt overwhelming at first. Technical judging focuses more on observing skills, workflow, and rule compliance, so it felt like a place where I could build confidence.

But tech judging is not easy. You still need to write detailed, rule based comments in English, and that takes practice. Early on, I even trained myself to draw visual notes that anyone could understand.

Q: What does it take to become a World Coffee Championships Tech Judge?

The process is rigorous and includes three major evaluations:

1. Written Exams

Candidates must pass a coffee theory exam with a minimum of 70 percent and a rules exam with 80 percent. The rules exam allows only one attempt. Questions are complex and often written to test both knowledge and English proficiency.

At one point, I found a rules question where none of the answer choices were correct. I followed up with the organization, and eventually they confirmed the question had been written incorrectly. That moment reminded me that attention to detail truly matters.

2. Practical Examination

For tech judges, this is critical. You are tested on visual measurements such as spilled coffee grounds and leftover milk in pitchers. Everything is judged by eye.

I practiced by bringing coffee grounds with me before the test. But during the exam, the roast level was different from what I prepared for, so the weight was different even if the volume looked the same. I started off wrong, and when you start wrong, everything feels wrong.

3. Mock Competition Simulation

A guest barista performs a full routine, and you must judge it as if it were a real competition. Even if you pass the written and practical exams, failing this simulation means failing overall.

I first attempted qualification in 2016 and did not pass. In 2025, nearly ten years later, I finally did.

Q: What was it like finding out you passed?

Very stressful.

After the exam, I went home and slept. My mentor told me to check my email, but I was too nervous to open it. When I finally did, I saw that I had passed.

Then I tried to register to judge in Milan. My name was not on the eligibility list. It was past midnight, and I thought maybe I had not actually passed. After several anxious hours the next day, my name finally appeared.

Only then could I sleep peacefully.

Q: Why was becoming a world judge so important to you?

When I moved to Canada, I felt there was a gap between the Korean and Canadian coffee scenes. Korea has so many talented baristas but not always the same international opportunities.

I began to think maybe I could be a bridge. Becoming a World Tech Judge is the first step, not the final goal. One day, I hope to become a Representative. That requires judging at least three world championships and receiving recommendations from other representatives.

It took ten years to become a world judge. It may take another ten to become a representative. This feels like the start of a new journey.

As the 2026 SCA Brewer’s Cup begins, we are reminded that every score sheet represents years of preparation, not only from competitors but from judges as well.

Jaimee’s journey is far from over. In the next entry of Felix’s Diary, she takes us behind the scenes of Milan 2025 to share what it truly felt like to judge at the World Barista Championship.