“While price was the original reason we found Ticket Tailor, we're very aligned on our values–it's a nice cultural match for sustainability and community.”

Bringing the coffee community together: How The Barista League uses Ticket Tailor to keep events accessible, affordable, and sustainable

We’re thrilled to feature The Barista League in our Our Event Creators series! From crafting the perfect espresso to creating cold brew mocktails, this unique event has become a global staple for coffee enthusiasts, bringing baristas and coffee lovers together for friendly competitions and great vibes.

We sat down with Founder Steven Maloney, who shared the inspiring journey behind The Barista League and why staying true to its roots of accessibility and sustainability is at the core of everything they do.

A global competition, born from a love of community

Steven’s vision for The Barista League started from a simple idea: create a competition that baristas — the unsung heroes of the coffee world — could not only participate in, but truly feel a part of. “The Barista League is really an event that was meant to be accessible for actual baristas, and a space for people to come, have a good time, connect, maybe drink a beer or two, and just build the coffee community,” Steven explains.

The heart of the event is the competition, where 10 teams of two battle it out on the main stage to make espressos, milk drinks, non-coffee beverages, and cold brew mocktails, with new teams rotating every 15 minutes. Surrounding this high-energy competition is a vibrant festival atmosphere, with tasting stations, coffee games, and top roasters showcasing their best brews.

Making events accessible, one ticket at a time

The journey to making The Barista League as accessible as possible wasn’t without its challenges. At first, Steven offered free tickets to encourage participation, but this led to an unexpected problem — high drop-out rates and unpredictable attendance. Because the tickets were free, many people signed up but didn’t show up on the day, leaving gaps in the crowd and making it difficult to plan the events effectively.

That’s where Ticket Tailor came in. With our low fees, Steven was able to introduce a small ticket price without making it a barrier for his audience. He set ticket prices under $15, making the events affordable to baristas on minimum wage, and the impact was immediate. “While price might have been the original reason we found our way there, I think we’re very aligned on some of our values,” Steven notes. Charging a nominal fee not only helped cover costs but also increased commitment from attendees, resulting in fuller, more energetic events.

A shared commitment to sustainability

For Steven, creating inclusive events is just one part of the puzzle. The Barista League is also committed to reducing its environmental impact, and that’s where Ticket Tailor’s unique features come into play. “One of the biggest things that we focus on at The Barista League is to make events as sustainable as possible. Part of that is just measuring where our impact comes from, what are the real carbon impacts from the event,” says Steven.

While many people tend to think of waste or recycling as the primary environmental concern, Steven points out that the true carbon footprint of an event extends far beyond that. “There’s ticketing, there’s websites, there’s transport, there’s all these kinds of things,” he explains. “So having someone [Ticket Tailor] that’s interested in it and has taken the time to measure it on their end, on the supplier end, is amazing for us.”

Ticket Tailor’s climate impact tracker gives organisers like Steven clear insight into the emissions generated by their ticketing, allowing them to factor this into their overall sustainability strategy. It’s all about providing the transparency that event creators need to make more informed choices.

Why Ticket Tailor is the perfect match for The Barista League

Flexibility, affordability, and sustainability — these are the pillars that make Ticket Tailor such a good fit for The Barista League’s international events. Whether hosting in Montreal, Melbourne, or Dubai, Steven and his team can easily switch currencies, adapt ticketing to local needs, and make sure they’re delivering events that reflect their core values.

And because we don’t add high fees, Steven can keep ticket prices low, making sure that cost never becomes a barrier to entry for baristas looking to take part. The shared commitment to sustainability is just the cherry on top.

As Steven puts it, “I think it’s such a nice cultural match between what we’re trying to do with community and sustainability and what Ticket Tailor does.” 🙌

Ready to create your own event?

Whether you’re planning an intimate workshop or coffee festival of your own, Ticket Tailor is here to help you keep things affordable, flexible, and environmentally friendly. Get started today and join creators like Steven in making events that matter.

Behind the beans in Montreal