World Coffee Events Announces 2018–2020 Qualified Equipment Sponsors for All Competitions

The Black Eagle is back, Urnex returns, San Remo’s on board, and Mahlkönig holds fast for the next tenure of World Coffee Events competition sponsors.

Note: Per our earlier statements here and here regarding the World Coffee Events/Specialty Coffee Association pushing forward with 2018 competitions in Dubai, as well as the Deferred Candidacy Policy, we at Barista Magazine will continue to report on WCE news and competitors while a final draft of the policy is being assembled. (Per the SCA’s statement, that it is being revised in light of the public outcry when it was announced in November) Depending on how well the revised policy addresses the community’s concerns, we will determine whether to continue reporting on the organizations.

FROM STAFF REPORTS

Every three years, manufacturers of espresso machines, grinders, brewers, and cleaning products throw their hats into the ring for a panel of experts to determine which are up to snuff enough to be the Qualified Sponsors for the World Coffee Championships. Today, World Coffee Events (WCE) announced which equipment and products would serve competitors in the World Barista Championship, the World Brewers Cup, the World Latte Art Championship, the World Coffee In Good Spirits Championship, the World Cup Tasters Championship, and the World Coffee Roasting Championship from 2018 through 2020.

There are both returning favorites and exciting newcomers to the scene: After helping to grow the World Barista Championship for the past nine years, Simonelli Group will continue as the Qualified Espresso Machine Sponsor with its beloved Victoria Arduino VA388 “Black Eagle.” Similar longtime supporter of the competitions, Mahlkönig, will seamlessly continue as the Qualified Grinder Sponsor with its Peak and EK43 (S) grinders. And after taking a brief hiatus, Urnex returns as the Qualified Cleaning Products Sponsor for all World Coffee Championships.

“Urnex has long supported coffee competitions and the competitors themselves, through initiatives like the Urnex Ambassador program,” says Isaac Cohen, VP of marketing at Urnex, noting that the program showcased and supported a host of national barista champions for the past three years. “The World Coffee Championships represent the highest levels of competition, with an incredible amount of hard work, time, passion and skill necessary to compete on the global stage,” Isaac continues. “We value this opportunity to engage with these competitors, the WCE, attendees, other sponsors, and our international partners to promote coffee excellence to the growing international specialty-coffee community.”

Newcomers to the World Coffee Championships stage will include San Remo Cafe Racer as the Qualified Espresso Machine Sponsor for both the World Latte Art Championship and the World Coffee In Good Spirits Championship. And while Technivorm is no newcomer to brewing excellent coffees for the World Cup Tasters Championship competitors, its Thermoserve II-X replaces the Mochamaster that has been the official brewer in the past.