Aotearoa Brewers Cup Championship ‘26

After growing demand and anticipation, the Aotearoa Brewers Cup Championship returns in 2026!

The 2026 Aotearoa Brewers Cup Championship will be held across two days, in the heart of Tāmaki Makaurau in conjunction with the Cup Tasters Championship for an eventful weekend of coffee!

Dates: Friday 1st May – Saturday 2nd May

Location: The Tuesday Club – 42 Airedale St, Auckland CBD

Ticket Release: Tuesday 10th February 2026, 7 pm NZT via Humanitix

Judges: Register Here!

Volunteers: Register Here!

About the Competition Format

The Brewers Cup Championship highlights the craft of manual filter coffee brewing through flavour clarity and service excellence. Competitors must prepare and serve 3 cups of coffee, each brewed individually, for a panel 3 judges.

With 18 competitors, the 2026 Aotearoa Brewers Cup will consist of two rounds – Preliminary and Finals. The Top 6 competitors from the Preliminary round will advance to the Finals.

There are two different service types:

Open Service: Competitors must use their own whole-bean coffee to prepare and serve 3 cups of coffee to a panel of judges, accompanied by a presentation that enhances the coffee experience. Open Service will be presented in both Preliminary and Finals rounds.

Compulsory Service: In Compulsory Service, ALL competitors will use the same whole-bean coffee, the same grinder and water, and the same standardised service vessels as provided by the Brewers Cup competition. Competitors will be provided with their whole-bean coffee soon before their practice and competition times, during which they will practice, prepare and serve 3 cups of coffee. Compulsory Service will only be presented in the Finals round.

The competitor with the highest combined score in the Finals round will be named the 2026 Aotearoa Brewers Cup Champion, representing our country at the World Brewers Cup Championship held at the World of Coffee Bogotá 2027. Flights and accommodation are covered, thanks to the support of our sponsors and competitor entry fees.

The 2026 Aotearoa Brewers Cup Championship will follow the 2026 World Brewers Cup Championship Rules & Regulations.

Judges Information

This year, we will have an international WCC Representative, Catherine Gu, attend the championship to oversee the competition and judging. Catherine brings a wealth of experience and knowledge, making this a valuable learning experience for judges.

Championship Calibration is a mandatory requirement for all judges. There will be a knowledge test of R&R with a minimum pass rate before confirming your participation. Calibration will be held before the competition to ensure alignment and fair judging, judges panels are chosen after the calibration on site, by the NZSCA Judges Committee.

Competition Governance

The New Zealand Specialty Coffee Association holds the official licence for the National Cup Tasters’ Championship. The competition is delivered in strict accordance with World Coffee Championships rules and standards.

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