Announcing the 2026-2027 World Barista Championship Qualified Sponsors
The Specialty Coffee Association (SCA) announces the Qualified Sponsors for the 2026–2027 World Barista Championship (WBC), marking the beginning of a new two-year cycle dedicated to elevating excellence, fostering innovation, and strengthening the global specialty coffee community.
2026–2027 WBC Qualified Espresso Machine:
2026–2027 WBC Qualified Espresso Grinder:
2026–2027 WBC Qualified Water Filtration Sponsor:
As the World Barista Championship continues to expand its global footprint, welcoming more competitors, reaching wider audiences, and inspiring new generations of coffee professionals, the role of Qualified Sponsors becomes increasingly important. The techniques and tools used on stage at the WBC have a history of wide and long-lasting impact within the industry, and this is especially true of products provided by qualified sponsors who supply the competition’s standardized equipment, ensuring consistency and fairness on the world-class stage where baristas perform.
The upcoming competition cycle brings the WBC to two landmark global destinations. In 2026, the World Barista Championship will take place in Panama City as part of World of Coffee Panama. Hosting the WBC in Panama, the first time in Central America, underscores the rich heritage and growing influence of the region, and positions the country as an accessible hub where producers, traders, and professionals from across the globe can convene.
In 2027, the WBC will return to Tokyo, Japan, as part of World of Coffee Tokyo marking two decades since the competition was last hosted there. Tokyo has become a global leader in coffee culture, celebrated for its innovation, precision, and design. As Japan remains one of the world’s largest coffee-consuming markets, the return of the WBC will once again place Tokyo at the forefront of ideas, techniques, and flavors shaping the future of specialty coffee.
“Each new WBC cycle presents an opportunity to push our industry forward, and the 2026–2027 sponsorship group represents partners who share our commitment to support activities that make specialty coffee a thriving, equitable, and sustainable endeavor for the entire value chain,” said Yannis Apostolopoulos, Chief Executive Officer of the Specialty Coffee Association. “As the WBC grows in scale, audience, and impact, we are focused on fostering community, expanding pathways for professional development, and inspiring the next generation of coffee leaders. Together with our sponsors, we are building a stronger, more connected future for specialty coffee.”
STORM “Barista Attitude” returns as the Qualified Espresso Machine sponsor with the Tempesta Espresso Machine, continuing their commitment to supporting exceptional performance on the WBC stage. "We are proud to collaborate with and support SCA, an organization whose values and vision for the future we share. Our new WBC sponsorship allows us once again to affirm STORM as a benchmark of excellence in the coffee industry,” says Federico Gallia, from Ryoma, the parent company of STORM “Barista Attitude.” “We firmly believe that, especially in times of market uncertainty, the pursuit of perfection, and the long-standing consistency of a brand and its expertise can help guide the right course. For many baristas and coffee lovers, we want to be an inspiration, a supporter, a team player — simply, a partner. Just like SCA, at STORM we believe in delivering concrete answers that inspire progress."
2026-2027 WBC Qualified Espresso Machine: STORM “Barista Attitude”, Tempesta Espresso Machine
2026-2027 WBC Qualified Espresso Grinders: Ceado REV Zero and E37Z-Naked Grinders
The Qualified Espresso Grinder sponsor for the 2026–2027 cycle, Ceado, will play a crucial role in delivering precision, consistency, and reliability for all competitors, giving competitors the option to use their cutting edge REV Zero and E37Z-Naked grinders. “For Ceado, supporting the World Barista Championship is a natural extension of our philosophy of Designing Flavor. Coffee undertakes an extraordinary journey before it reaches our grinders — a journey made of work, expertise, and precious natural resources,” says Ceado CEO, Michele Girardi. “The best way to honor that journey is to provide the highest-performing equipment and to educate on how to use it, so that baristas can truly design, express and elevate the aromatic profile of this unique raw material. We are proud to support the WBC with our REV Zero and E37Z-Naked grinders, and to contribute to a community that celebrates innovation, precision, craft, and respect for coffee.”
BWT water+more also returns as the long-standing Qualified Water Filtration sponsor, ensuring optimal water quality and safeguarding flavor integrity for competitors throughout the competition. “BWT water+more is very proud to be chosen as the Qualified Water Filtration sponsor of the 2026-2027 World Barista Championships,” says Dr. Frank Neuhausen, Managing Director of BWT water+more Deutschland GmbH. “For more than 18 years, we’ve collaborated closely with coffee professionals to deliver innovative water optimization solutions and champion sustainability through initiatives like our ‘Change the world – sip by sip’ campaign, where we invite the entire coffee industry to join us in shaping a sustainable future. BWT water+more delivers innovative water optimization solutions that ensure perfect coffee quality in every cup. Supplying the world’s top baristas with perfect water at the WBC underscores our dedication to excellence and innovation. Perfect water. Perfect coffee. Perfect partnership.”
2026-2027 WBC Qualified Water Filtration Sponsor: BWT water+more
Make sure to join us at the 2026 and 2027 World Barista Championships:
Panama City World Coffee Championships
October 23-25, 2026 at World of Coffee Panama in Panama City, Panama
Featuring the World Barista Championship
Tokyo World Coffee Championships
April 28-May 1, 2027, at World of Coffee Tokyo in Tokyo, Japan
Featuring the World Barista Championship
For more information about the WCCs, stay up to date by signing up for the WCC Newsletter at wcc.coffee/newsletter.
