Due to popular demand and general mega love for Aeropress competition, the AACs have been split into the VACs and the NSWACs. Competitors from other states are of course welcome to enter either of the 2 competitions.

Firstly, the VACs :

Monday 20th May from 5pm at Market Lane : Prahran Market

“We’re very excited to be hosting this brewing competition in the lead-up to this year’s World Coffee Event. All coffee lovers are invited to come along – whether you’re a barista or a cafe customer, whether you want to step up and compete, or hang out and watch the aficionados do their thing.

If you’re a spectator: there will be lots of lovely coffee people to chat with, and food and beer available for a gold coin donation.

If you’re an Aeropresser: there are 18 competitor spots available. Entry is free on a first come, first served basis – with a maximum of two competitors per organisation. To enter, please email VAC@marketlane.com.au and we’ll get back to you with details of the judges and the coffees to be used.

And if you’ve never heard of an Aeropress before: check out this handy video!

The top two competitors will go through to the Australian Aeropress Competition. Exciting!

See you there/then! Okay? Okay.”

Secondly, the NSWACs :

Saturday 18th May from 4pm at Mecca Espresso Ultimo

“We are on the hunt for NSW’s greatest Aeropresser* to represent us at the impending World Aeropress Championships to be held in Melbourne at the end of May.

This is as straight forward as competitions come, brew an aeropress, put it up against a competitor (or 2 depending on # of entries) and a panel of judges will decide “blindly” which brew was best. If it was yours, you progress.

Entry will be $20 with the winner taking all the proceeds. The winner and runner-up will also gain automatic qualification for the World Aeropress Championships on the 24th of May.

So if you would like to enter please fill out this form:
https://docs.google.com/forms/d/1N_GFj31Cjube6qoqCvLEkT-9yzH0IE_w6FPE0k9meGY/viewform

Also you can email aeropress@meccaespresso.com.au with any questions.”

And so, without further ado, here at WAC headquarters we’d like to announce some details surrounding the most anticipated Aeropress related competition in the World.

The 2013 competition will be held in Melbourne on Friday 24th May from 7pm until midnight at The Australian Barista Academy –  300 Rosslyn Street, West Melbourne.

Competitors will be feeling the vibe from the Nordic Approach, and their unshakable coffee from the epic Gitchathaini from the Gikanda Cooperative in Nyeri, Kenya will be the coffee for the competitors. This is as f-f-fresh as it gets.

Expect a Super Bowl amount of ridiculousness, with the commentary box filled with expert opinion, interviews and live commentary from the SPRUDGE pundits.

The judging panel will consist of the seasoned authority on Aeropressness from his excellence, Tim Wendelboe. The local aficionado, Fleur Studd of Market Lane will preside and finally the American who is almost now Australian, the cup tasting maestro, Senõr Ben Kaminsky.

For the viewing public, there’ll be burgers from Huxtaburger and fitting Aussie beer and wine.

The WACs will share the limelight with the equally electrifying Five Senses Ping Pong Tournament. You’ll be able to sign up (representing a coffee roaster or cafe, both singles and doubles tournaments) on the night. Huge cash prizes and ping pong glory!

Competitors need announce their willingness to compete via email. Priority will be given to the winners of national competitions. Rules will be updated in the coming days and details on getting your hands on the competition coffee will be posted soon too.

So, here it is. The Japanese Aeropress Championships…

More information here. Please note the time change.

This years Irish Aeropress Championship is just around the corner and thanks to our kind sponsors the winner will be flown to Melbourne to represent Ireland at the World Aeropress Championships in May.  Details below:

Maximum of 18 competitors.

Entry fee is €20 payable in advance (send cheques made payable to: Lorcan Fagan, 40 Belmont Lawn, Galloping Green, Stillorgan, Co Dublin).  First come first served!  Your entry will be confirmed via twitter.

All entrants will receive a t-shirt (beautifully designed by blu-boy clothing) and there will be food and beer served on the night.  We will also have some Tim Wendleboe on bar.

The kind people at Baratza have sponsored the runner up prize of a Baratza grinder!

Once again thank you to our sponsors who have made this event possible:

Aerobie, Dairyland, Marco, 3fe, Bailies Handroasted Coffee, Baratza and a special thank you to Roasted Brown for hosting the evening.

Get pressing and see you on April 11.

Spectators are more than welcome.

(Winner must be available to fly to Melbourne, the last week of May 2013!!!!!)

More information here.

Belgium : Where Where World Aeropress Champions are made!

The rules are fairly straight forward, 3 International judges will evaluate (blind), purely based on taste, the best filter style brew from the Aeropress. We want the competition to be as transparent as possible, with the intention of fine tuning the hugely varied technique used to brew on the Aeropress.

General Rules : everyone will use the same coffee, graciously donated by Caffenation Specialty Coffee Roasters.
The coffee will be preroasted one month before the championship. One 210 grams bag of this coffee will be send to all competitors.
At the championships we will have the same coffee, 7 day old.

The required volume of the drink is 2dl, which has to be served in the supplied cupping cup. It is up to the competitor what kind of water is used, no added ingredients are allowed. All competitors will have a 8 minutes comp time. Failure to serve the drink in that time will mean disqualification. The technique used by the competitor must be in writing and given to the judges this will not be considered in judging.

Equipment : The supplied equipment will be all grinders and boilers at Caffenation. Competitors are welcome to bring their own grinder.
We will have 1 Big Ditting and 1 Mahlkonig Tanzania grinder.
You can bring your own, but there are Aeropresses available for those interested.
Any modifications to the actual Aeropress will need to be authorised by the Head Judge and if need by the organisation.

Water – Everpure filtered Antwerp tap water will be used via the Bravilor boiler, set at 93°c. You are allowed to use your own water, and your own water boiler of choice.

Rounds : There will be 6 round with 3 participants. The winner advances to the semi finals.
In de Semi Finals we have knock out round one against one.
So we end up with 3 competitors in the Finals.

After each round, competitors must use the judging time to clear their station ready for the next round of competitors.

Competitors must have the Belgian nationality or must live in Belgium since 1 year.

BAC 2013 Koffie : Papua New Guinea Kimel Estate (Dutch)

Heel lang geleden dat we nog eens een koffie uit Papua New Guinea vinden die ons aanstaat. En dan nog een Peaberry, of zo’n rond boontje. De meeste koffiebessen bevatten 2 boontjes die tegen mekaar aan gedrukt zijn en daarom een platte kant hebben. De Peaberry of Caricoli daarentegen zit alleen in de bes en heeft dus geen platte kant.
Meestal vindt dit natuurkundig fenomeen plaats in de besjes op het einde van de tak. Hier is er minder waterdoorvoer en daardoor zijn de boontjes meestal klein. Deze Peaberry echter is van gemiddelde grootte, screen size 15-17.

De Kimel Estate is een redelijk grote plantage, oorspronkelijk opgestart door Australiërs, maar nu in bezit en uitgebaat door lokale inboorlingen die de traditionele eigendommen van de streek opeisen.
Het is gelegen in de Wahgi vallei, nabij Mount Hagen in de Western Highlands Province.

Opvallende aciditeit voor een koffie uit dit werelddeel. Doet me denken aan aciditeit van een Riesling wijn, inclusief het florale aspect.
Verder medium body en naar het einde toe veel chocolade en zelfs Meditteraanse kruiden. Een zeer complexe en levendige kop dus.
Hier kan je veel verschillende profielen uithalen.

Waar gaan we mee spelen?
Temperatuur water. Meestal betekent hoger, meer aciditeit en lager, meer sweetness.
Maling : Probeer eens wat groffer te malen om minder bitters in je kop te krijgen.
Ratio : Basisratio is 60 gram koffie op 1000 gram water, maar meer of minder kan altijd.
Extractietijd : Deze lichte brandingen kunnen soms wat extra body krijgen dankzij langere extracties….
Turbulentie : Reversed techniek of extra roeren kan extra smaak en kortere extractietijd betekenen…