The 2021 Australian AeroPress Championship has announced that it will be held as a ‘Compete from Home’ event, hosted by Bureaux Coffee and supported by Oatly, Cafe Imports, and Slayer Espresso.

“As much as we’d love to have already seen the back of the hot mess that’s consumed the last two years or so, planning in-person, interstate events that are open to spectators just isn’t quite within reach,” says World AeroPress Championships.

“But instead of binning the whole competition this year, we’re determined to still give Australian competitors the opportunity to take part – they just need to stay home to do so.”

Instead of all competitors coming together to brew for the judges, the event hosts will be shipping competition coffee directly to competitors’ homes where they will then work to create the best recipe.

On or before the recipe submission deadline of 3 December, participants will use an online form to submit their best possible recipe ahead of what’s being ominously titled ‘Judgement Day’, on 10 December.

On 10 December, the usual knockout tournament will take place, but with surrogate baristas brewing competitors’ recipes on their behalf. A team of judges will review each recipe, and by 3pm a new Australian AeroPress Champion will be crowned.

As a first for a national Australian event, this will be a precursor to how this year’s World Final will be conducted. While the event won’t be open to the public it will be covered online via Bureaux Coffee and the World AeroPress Championship platforms.

Entry costs $95. Only 27 competitor places are available across Australia. Participants who do secure a place will receive the competition coffee, Third Wave Water formulation sachets, and a custom made “Bureaux Edition” AeroPress to keep. Express courier shipping with FedEx is included.

Sign-ups for the championship open at 6:00pm on 15 November here.

Image Credit: World AeroPress Championship