Will Australia once again usurp Italy as the best pizza makers in the world?

Pizza makers from around the world will gather in Italy this month for the 2018 Pizza World Championships, and three Australians are competing for the title.

Australian chefs have taken the mantle of world champion twice before — Melbourne chef Johnny Di Francesco in 2014 and Sydney chef Stefano Cirene in 2017.

And now Michele Circhirillo has his eyes set on becoming the next champion.

"Pizza making is a kind of life, it's not just a job, it's a passion," he said.

"It's something that you have to believe and put all your time and creativity."

Michele Circhillo has spent the past two decades travelling the world and making pizza. ( ABC NEws: Connie Agius )

Originally from Italy, Mr Circhirillo has spent the past two decades travelling the world and making pizza.

His Melbourne pizza and gnocchi bar 48 Hours, co-founded with Fabio Biscaldi, has become widely popular.

And in a few days he will be travelling back to his homeland to compete in the Pizza World Championship, where he will be vying for the Neapolitan Traditional Pizza and Classic Pizza titles.

Mr Circhirillo said the idea of entering in the Pizza World Championship did not come to him until after he competed in the Australian pizza championship, Pizza Revolutionary.

"I won for the gluten-free category. I was actually thinking it was a good idea to try to compete in the world championship," he said.

Australian 'taste has improved 100 per cent'

Fabio Biscaldi and Michele Circhillo are co-founders of the Melbourne pizza and gnocchi bar '48 Hours, co-founded with Fabio Biscaldi'. ( ABC News: Connie Agius )

His colleague Mr Biscaldi said he had noticed a change in Melbourne's food culture over the past few years.

"I came here to Australia 11 years ago. And when I first came here, I saw people having a pizza with a cappuccino or a latte — it was a little bit strange," he said.

"I saw this develop in the last few years, the taste has improved 100 per cent. After probably Milan, London — the capital of food, New York.

"Now Melbourne is starting to kick in, a lot. Some of the most famous chefs start to come to Melbourne and open restaurants here. And the quality is very high."

Mr Biscaldi said he hoped Mr Circhirillo would be able to prove just how good Melbourne's pizza had become.

"I've got all my fingers crossed, and look for me Michele already won," he said.

"I have known him for seven years, I know the passion he's put in his job. Even if he doesn't win, it doesn't matter because we'll work even harder the next day to try to win next year."