Lukas Zahradnik of Green Plantation Coffee in Komarno, Slovakia has won the 2015 World AeroPress Champion. This is Mr. Zahradnik’s first career WAC win, and the first win for the nation of Slovakia. The event itself took place at Within Sodo in Seattle’s SoDo (South of the [no longer extant] Dome) neighborhood, and was attended by approximately 435 people.
AeroPress inventor Alan Adler was in attendance, along with AeroPress Championship founders Tim Varney (Small Batch Roasting Company, Melbourne) and Tim Wendelboe (Tim Wendelboe, Oslo). “How many people were at the first AeroPress competition?” We overheard Adler ask Wendelboe. “Three,” Wendelboe answered.
It’s come a long way.
The judges of the final round: Katie Carguilo (Counter Culture Coffee), Amanda Juris (Starbucks Coffee), and Anne Lunell (Koppi).
Here’s the top three recipes from the 2015 World AeroPress Championship, as adjudicated by an august cabal of learned judges and coffee experts from around the globe.
Third Place
Kaye Joy Ong, Habitual Coffee, The Philippines
Standard brew method
22.5 grams of coffee ground at the “4” setting on an Mahlkönig EK43 grinder
Heat water to 79 Celsius
Add 56 grams of water
Bloom 30 seconds
Add the rest of the water (to 280 grams) in 1 minute
Press for 30 seconds.
Second Place
Nick Hatch, Eight Ounce Coffee, Canada
Standard Brew Method
17.5 grams of coffee ground on 17 on a Baratza Virtuoso grinder
Heat water to 85 Celsius
Add 50-60 grams of water
Stir five times
Let bloom for 25 seconds
Add the rest of the water (280 grams) in 20 seconds
1 minute plunge in a cold cup.
First Place
Lukas Zahradnik, Green Plantation Coffee, Slovakia
Inverted Brew Method
20 grams of coffee ground at the “7.3” setting on a Mahlkönig EK34 grinder
Heat water to 79 Celsius
Add 60 grams of water
Turbulent wiggle 15 seconds
30 second bloom
Add the rest of the water in 10 seconds
45 seconds press
1:37 minute total brew time
More excitement from the event:
MC Ben Kaminsky held court in a beautifully tailored tuxedo alongside MC partner David Latourelle (of BKON, not pictured).
Fines were sifted vigorously.
Paulina Miczka of Kaffeine in the UK had a strong showing at the event, advancing to finals and placing fourth.
Photos were taken.
Sunglasses were worn. Indoors! At night!
Did we mention the fish?
World Barista Champion James Hoffmann manned the DJ booth for a few minutes.
Sprudge.com is proudly partnered with the World AeroPress Circuit and Aerobie, makers of the AeroPress.
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