The Brewers Cup Returns!
The 2026 Brewers Cup Championship made a triumphant comeback — and we were proud to be part of it.
Recently, our specialty coffee community gathered for the 2026 Aotearoa Brewers Cup Championship and Cup Tasters Championship, hosted by the NZSCA. We were thrilled to sponsor the event alongside our BWT water filter range — because great coffee starts with great water.
The Brewers Cup Returns to Aotearoa
After a nine-year break, the Aotearoa Brewers Cup Championship was back on the national calendar — and the energy in the room said it all. Over three days, the NZSCA hosted the Brewers Cup Championship across Friday and Saturday, followed by the Cup Tasters Championship on Sunday.
Sixteen talented brewers took the stage to showcase their craft, with both seasoned competitors and first-time entrants stepping up. The level of skill and dedication on display was exceptional.
Meet the 2026 Aotearoa Brewers Cup Champion
Congratulations to Dove Chen of Grey Roasting Co., your 2026 Aotearoa Brewers Cup Champion, with a standout 509 points across both the open and compulsory service rounds.
Dove will now represent Aotearoa on the world stage at the World Brewers Cup Championship in Bogotá, Colombia, from 30 September to 2 October 2027. We'll be cheering loudly.
Official 2026 Aotearoa Brewers Cup Results
Finals — Open & Compulsory Service
| Place | Competitor | Roaster | Points |
|---|---|---|---|
| 🥇 1st | Dove Chen | Grey St Roasting | 509 |
| 🥈 2nd | Woohyung Lee | Holiday and Old Dog | 474 |
| 🥉 3rd | Saehoon Ahn | Parable House | 451 |
| 4th | Agnese Sokolovska | Cata Exports | 442 |
| 5th | Honoka Kawashima | Sketchbook Coffee | 439 |
Preliminary Round — Open Service
| Place | Competitor | Roaster | Points |
|---|---|---|---|
| 6th | Subin Choi | Slow Koi | 274 |
| 7th | Nick Schryvers | Victus Coffee and Eatery | 266 |
| 8th | Ben Harvey | Bean Soup | 259 |
| 9th | Keanan Talbot | Atomic Coffee Roasters | 253 |
| 10th | Hyungwon Choi | Phlox Coffee Cottage | 251 |
| 11th | Jeffery Ng | The Coffee Dojo | 243 |
| 12th | Neil He | Independent | 234 |
| 13th | Farrel Maulana Arsy | C4 Coffee Co. | 225 |
Did not Qualify:
Javiera Vergara (Tourist Coffee)
Shintaro Tanaka (Independent)
Bevan Cammell (Sacred Grounds Coffee)
Why Water Quality Matters in Specialty Coffee
As BWT water filter specialists, we know that water is one of the most overlooked variables in brewing competition-level coffee. The mineral composition, hardness, and purity of your water directly affects extraction — influencing sweetness, clarity, acidity, and body in the cup.
At an event where competitors are chasing scores in the hundreds of points and fractions matter, having consistent, optimised water is essential. BWT's water filtration technology is trusted by coffee professionals across New Zealand and around the world for exactly this reason.
A Massive Thank You
Events like this don't happen without an incredible community behind them. Huge thanks to:
- The NZSCA for bringing the Brewers Cup back after nine years — it was worth the wait
- Every competitor who stepped onto that stage, first-timers especially
- The volunteers and judges who made the weekend run seamlessly
- Our fellow sponsors for helping bring it all to life
And a special shoutout to Woo Hyung Lee of Holiday and Old Dog (runner-up, 474 pts) and Saehoon Ahn of Parable House (third place, 451 pts) — your scores speak for themselves.
Bring on Brewers Cup 2027
The standard set this year is seriously high. We cannot wait to see what the New Zealand coffee community brings next year — and we'll be right there alongside it.
Interested in BWT water filtration for your home, café, or roastery? Get in touch.
Machine Ltd. is New Zealand's leading supplier of specialty coffee equipment, including the BWT water filter range. We're proud supporters of the New Zealand specialty coffee community.