Our recurring round-up of the latest specialty-coffee industry news.
FROM STAFF REPORTS
Featured image by Joshua Earle
Rules + Regulations for 2026 World Coffee in Good Spirits and World Coffee Roasting Championships Have Been Released
Georgius Audrey Teja (top row, fourth from left) after winning the 2025 Coffee in Good Spirits title, representing Indonesia. Photo courtesy of Georgius Audrey Teja.The World Coffee Championships (WCC) has announced the publication of the 2026 World Coffee in Good Spirits (WCIGS) and World Coffee Roasting Championships (WCRC) Rules and Regulations. The 2026 WCIGS and WCRC will take place June 25–27, 2026, at World of Coffee in Brussels, Belgium.
For the full 2026 WCIGS and WCRC Rules and Regulations, visit wcc.coffee/rules-regulations.
The SCA Announces Sponsors for the 2026–2027 World Barista Championship
The Tempesta Multiboiler Espresso Machine by Storm Barista Attitude. Photo courtesy of Storm Barista Attitude.The Specialty Coffee Association (SCA) has announced the Qualified Sponsors of the 2026–2027 World Barista Championship (WBC), as well as the 2026–2029 World Brewers Cup Qualified Filter Grinder Sponsor.
2026–2027 WBC Qualified Espresso Machine:Storm Barista Attitude – Tempesta Espresso Machine
2026–2027 WBC Qualified Espresso Grinder: Ceado – Rev Zero and E37Z-Naked Grinders
2026–2027 WBC Qualified Water Filtration Sponsor: BWT Water + more
2026–2029 World Brewers Cup Qualified Filter Grinder Sponsor: Option-O – LAGOM 01 Grinder
“Each new WBC cycle presents an opportunity to push our industry forward, and (this) 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 SCA.
Memphis Rapper 8Ball Launches Limited-Edition “8 Ball Brand Coffee” in Collaboration with Cxffee Black
Photo courtesy of 8 Ball Brand Coffee.Last month, rapper 8Ball of hip-hop duo 8 Ball & MJG announced the launch of 8 Ball Brand Coffee: a premium coffee brand created in collaboration with Cxffee Black. Only 800 autographed bundles of this exclusive original blend will be released.
The launch also supports ongoing initiatives that reflect both partners’ missions of investment and empowerment within Black communities. “I wanted to create something that reflects where I come from—the grind, the culture, and that first cup of coffee that gets you going,” 8Ball shared in a press release. “This isn’t just coffee. It’s a vibe, it’s history, and it’s for the people.”
To learn more, visit www.8ballbrandcoffees.com.
California-Grown Coffee Makes First International Auction Debut in Dubai
Photo courtesy of FRINJ Coffee on Instagram.Twenty-three years after planting California’s first coffee trees, FRINJ Coffee will represent the state at the Dubai Coffee Auction on January 18-19, 2026, marking the first time California-grown coffee has competed at an international auction. The company will offer a 20-kilogram Traditional Washed Geisha lot from Condor Ridge Ranch.
“This is a watershed moment for California agriculture and for specialty coffee. … We’ve proven that California terroir produces some of the finest coffee in the world,” says FRINJ co-founder Jay Ruskey.
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