Aotearoa Brewers Cup Championship ‘26
- Ticket release: 10 February 2026
- Judges: Registration opens in February
- Volunteers: Registration opens in February
The Aotearoa Brewers Cup Championship highlights the craft of filter coffee brewing, with a strong focus on manual brewing, flavour clarity, and service excellence. This competition is designed for competitors who care deeply about process, balance, and communicating a clear coffee story through the cup.
Pathway to the World Championship
The 2026 Aotearoa Brewers Cup Champion will go on to represent 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.
Competition Governance
The New Zealand Specialty Coffee Association holds the official licence for the national Brewers Cup Championship. The competition is delivered in strict accordance with World Coffee Championships rules and standards.
About the Competition Format
Competitors prepare and serve three individual beverages for a panel of judges.
The Aotearoa Championship consists of two rounds:
Open service
- Competitors may use any whole bean coffee of their choosing
- Beverage preparation is accompanied by a presentation
- This round focuses on flavour, intent, and storytelling
- Presented in both preliminary and finals rounds
Compulsory service
- Competitors prepare three beverages
- Whole bean coffee is provided by the competition TBA
- These round tests adaptability, brewing skill, and consistency
- Only presented in the finals round
The competitor with the highest combined score will be named the Aotearoa Brewers Cup Champion.
Judges Information
Calibration will be held the day before and will be compulsory for all judges. This year, we will have international WCE representative Catherine Gu to oversee the competition and the judges. Catherine brings a wealth of experience and knowledge with her, making this a very valuable experience for you to learn.
Important competitor information
- Full schedules and practice allocations will be released closer to the event
- Every Competitor must read the Code of Conduct to be signed on the day
Find out more about the Championship at www.worldbrewerscup.org
Thanks to our generous sponsors who make this competition possible:
Principal: OPEN
Sponsors:
Cleaning Supplies: OPEN
Equipment: OPEN
Ceramics/Porcelain: OPEN
Coffee/Roasting: OPEN
Brewing Equipment: OPEN
Event partner/s: OPEN