The equipment Australia’s Gabrel Tan and Aotearoa’s Hiroko Hanna Teramoto will be using at the 2026 World Barista Championships (WBC) has been announced, with the Specialty Coffee Association revealing its WBC Qualified Sponsors for 2026-2027.
The sponsors will cover the 2026 event which will take place in Panama City, while World of Coffee Tokyo will host the 2027 championship.
Storm “Barista Attitude”, Ceado, and BWT water+more have been unveiled as the SCA’s Qualified Sponsors for the event, marking the start of a new two-year cycle.
The Tempesta Espresso Machine from Storm “Barista Attitude” returns are the Qualified Espresso Machine sponsor for the events, while competitors will have the option of using the Ceado REV Zero or E37Z Naked grinders.
Finally, BWT water+more returns as the Qualified Water Filtration Sponsor.
The SCA says qualified equipment used on the WBC stage undergoes rigorous testing and assessment to ensure it meets desired performance and consistency standards.
SCA CEO Yannis Apostolopoulos says it is important to utilise high-quality equipment on the world stage to enable competitors to get the best out of their performances.
“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,” says Apostolopoulos.
“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 endeavour for the entire value chain.
“Together with our sponsors, we are building a stronger, more connected future for specialty coffee.”
