The Winning Recipes from the 2018 World AeroPress Championship

Learn how to brew with the best with these winning recipes from the 2018 World AeroPress Championship!

BY ASHLEY RODRIGUEZ
BARISTA MAGAZINE ONLINE

Last month, baristas from all over the world flocked to Sydney, Australia, to compete in the 2018 World AeroPress Championship! Over 140 competitions were held leading up to the world championships, and 61 national champions battled it out for the title of the best AeroPress brewer in the world. The competition, which was sponsored by Single O and held at Commune, was unique in that competitors did not know about the coffee they were brewing until shortly before the competition, and attendees were able to sample coffee from competitors throughout the event.

Michelle Johnson and Marcus Boni returned to emcee the event, which saw Carolina Ibarra Garay, the competitor from the United States, win it all. Check out her recipe, along with recipes from the second- and third-place finishers, below—and let us know how you enjoyed these recipes!

The top three winners. From left to right: Evgeni Pinchukov of Belarus, Carolina Ibarra Garay of the United States, and Xiaobo Zhang of China. Photo by Abi Varney.

Carolina Ibarra Garay, USA
Winner: 2018 World AeroPress Championship

Coffee: Mugaya AA
Origin: Kirinyaga, Kenya
Roaster: Single O
Importer: Cafe Imports

Brewer Position: Inverted
Filter: Paper filter
Preparation: Rinsed with hot water

The top three brewing in the final round. Photo by Abi Varney.

Coffee weight: 34.9g
Grinder: Mahlkonig EK43S
Grind size: [fine] 0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 [coarse]
Water weight: 200g
Type of water: Filtered water by Brita
Temperature: 85 degrees Celsius

Step 1: Set your water temperature at 85 degrees Celsius.

Step 2: Prepare your filter paper and grind your coffee.

Step 3: Pour 100g of water for 30 sec.

Step 4: Stir vigorously but carefully with wooden pair of chopsticks for 30 sec.

Step 5: Put the filter cap on, flip the AeroPress and press into a glass server for 30 sec.

Step 6: Do not preheat your serving vessel.

Step 7: Top up your brew with 60g of 85 degrees Celsius water and 40g of room temperature water.

Carolina during her practice time. Competitors had four hours with the coffee, which was kept under wraps until the competition. Carolina only used an hour of her time. Photo by Abi Varney.

Xiaobo Zhang, China
2nd Place: 2018 World AeroPress Championship

Brewer Position: Inverted
Filter: Kalita 95mm paper filter
Preparation: Rinsed with cold water

Coffee weight: 31g
Grinder: DM Grind 2 Hand Coffee Grinder
Grind size: [fine] 0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 [coarse]

Water weight: 220g
Type of water: Filtered water by Brita
Temperature: 80 degrees Celsius

Step 1: Add 30g of coffee into chamber.

Step 2: Add 100g of water in 15 sec.

Step 3: Stir for 15 sec.

Step 4: Add 70g of water.

Step 5: Add 1g of very finely ground coffee (like espresso).

Step 6: Attach filter cap, flip the AeroPress and press for 45 sec.

Step 7: Top up brew with 50g of water.

Step 8: Enjoy.

The judges during the competition. From left to right: Wendy de Jong (Single O), Megan Wyper (Acme & Co), Julie Kerr (Cafe Imports). Photo by Abi Varney.

Evgeni Pinchukov, Belarus
3rd Place: 2018 World AeroPress Championship

Brewer Position: Upright
Filter: Two paper filters
Preparation: Rinsed with hot water

Coffee weight: 15g
Grinder: Comandante Hand Grinder
Grind size: [fine] 0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 [coarse]

Water weight: 230g
Type of water: Filtered water by Brita
Temperature: 80 degrees Celsius

Step 1: Start your timer.

Step 2: Add coffee and 50g of water into chamber and let it bloom.

Step 3: Stir and then wait for 30 sec.

Step 4: Add 180g of water into chamber.

Step 5: Wait until timer is at 1 min 5 sec, then stir.

Step 6: Replace plunger on top of the chamber and start pressing.

Step 7: Press until the coffee grounds in the chamber are just visible above the water line and stop.