After years of near-misses, Melbourne’s Jack Simpson (Axil Coffee Roasters) reached the pinnacle of the coffee world in October 2025, being crowned the World Barista Champion at HostMilano. Following a bronze in 2023 and a silver in 2024, Jack’s victory in Milan was a masterclass in resilience. His routine - themed around personal vulnerability and human connection - utilised some of the most advanced coffee tech available today, most notably his choice of glassware: Ni Wares