October 2024
Bring Back the Brewer’s Cup: A Call to Action
We’ve been listening, and there’s a growing enthusiasm for the return of the Brewer’s Cup! A huge shout-out to those who have spearheaded mini-brewing events like Allpress V60, All Brews, and the Y2K Brew Battle by SCSC. Even the good ol’ Aeropress. It’s inspiring to see our community rallying around these initiatives.
A Brief History
In New
Zealand, the Brewer’s Cup Championship began in 2013 in Auckland at Atomic Coffee Roasters, where we saw seven passionate competitors. Guy McCracken from Nelson made us proud by ranking seventh at the world event in Melbourne. Over the next four years, we continued to champion the event, growing from four competitors in its second year to a high of nine in the penultimate year in 2018. Our last Brewers champion was Nara Lee who represented Aotearoa in Budapest later that year.
Original 2013 poster
Why Did We Stop?
The simplest answer is numbers and the need for funds and sponsorship to make the event happen. While we started with a commendable seven competitors, sustaining interest proved challenging. For an WCC-endorsed event, we require a minimum of six competitors, alongside robust community engagement.
Organizing the Brewer’s Cup is also logistically more complex than a throwdown-style event. Specific rules and standards must be followed, including an additional day for judge training and paying for an official representative to oversee the event. The Championship emphasizes consistency, with participants required to complete three brews within the competition timeframe in a compulsory and then open-round format.
On the world stage, the capacity for national bodies to compete is limited, which poses another challenge. Even if we host the event, securing a spot for our champion at the international level may not be guaranteed.
Nara Lee pours for judges in 2017
The Financial Considerations
Running the Brewer’s Cup involves significant costs. These include covering the champion’s accommodation (eight nights), flights, and insurance, totaling approx $6,000 to $8,000. Additional expenses for venue logistics, training, advertising, and equipment increase the total approximately $35,000. Sponsorship is crucial for making this event happen.
Masako Yamamoto, Certified Brewer’s Cup Judge, 2016
Moving Forward
We are eager to reignite the Brewer’s Cup! Our calendar is filled with regional events, and we envision a potential return in late November 2025 or February 2026. To make this a reality, we are actively seeking interest in sponsorship and suitable venues.
Our community’s passion for coffee runs deep, and together, we can bring back the Brewer’s Cup to showcase our talent and dedication. Let’s connect and make this happen if you’re interested in supporting or participating!
e: emma@nzsca.org
Ria Lingad, NZ Brewer’s Champion 2016