EDIT – May 19, 2022: The World Latte Art and World Coffee in Good Spirits Championships did not take place as planned in 2021. The provided grinder options for those events in 2021 will be the same in 2022—this post has been updated to reflect the change.

Qualified Sponsors provide the equipment & products that competitors use on stage for a three-year term, with the most recent qualified sponsorship running from 2018 to 2020. With the cancelation of the 2020/2021 World Coffee Championships (WCC) this term was extended for all qualified sponsors, to include the 2021 World Barista Championship, World Brewers Cup, and World Cup Tasters Championship, and the 2022 World Latte Art & World Coffee in Good Spirits Championships.

Today we are announcing a number of updates to the qualified grinders at the 2021 World Barista Championship (WBC), 2021 World Brewers Cup (WBrC), 2022 World Latte Art Championship (WLAC), and 2022 World Coffee in Good Spirits Championship (WCIGS), as the previous models are no longer being manufactured.

The new qualified grinders for the 2021/2022 WCC season are: Mahlkönig  E80S (WBC & WCIGS), Ditting 807 Lab Sweet (WBrC), and Anfim SPII+ (WLAC). As the E80S and 807 Lab Sweet are entirely new models they were submitted to the Qualified Testing program.

Please note: WBC & WCIGS competitors who plan on bringing their own grinders will have the option to use any of the grinder models from the 2018-2020 term; or the new models announced for the 2021/2022 WCC season. For the full list of models that competitors may use during competition, see Option B in the table below. Competitors who bring their own grinders will continue to have them validated for use by a representative from the Hemro Group.

​Competitors who plan on using a grinder provided by the Hemro Group will only be offered the new models approved for the 2021/2022 WCC. Please see the table below for the full range of grinder options.

Competition Option A

Sponsor will provide:

 Option B

Competitors can bring their own:

 Notes
World Barista Championship Mahlkönig  EK43 / EK43S

Mahlkönig  E80S

 Mahlkönig  EK43 / EK43S

Mahlkönig  Peak

Mahlkönig  E80S

 In Option B, the sponsor will verify & seal the competitor’s grinder for use on stage.
World Brewers Cup Ditting 807 Lab Sweet Grinder of any make/model for use backstage in the Open Service round (Rule 5.3B). No verification of grinders required in Option B.
World Latte Art Championship Anfim SPII+ Not Applicable
World Coffee in Good Spirits
Championship		 Mahlkönig  EK43

Mahlkönig  E80S

 Mahlkönig  EK43

Mahlkönig  Peak

Mahlkönig  E80S

 In Option B, the sponsor will verify & seal the competitor’s grinder for use on stage.

More details on the next Qualified Sponsorship cycle will be available soon.

We’ve answered some questions you might have about the change below, but please reach out to us as soon as possible if you need further clarification.

Frequently Asked Questions

WBC

Q: What grinders will be provided for WBC?
A: See Option A in the table above.

Q: What are the rules around sponsor-provided grinders for the WBC?
A: The sponsor-provided grinders in 2021/2022 are listed in Option A in the table above. The following rules apply to sponsor-provided grinders:

  • During online registration, competitors will be asked to select whether they intend to bring their own grinders, or use the provided grinders, and if they intend to use provided grinders, what model(s) they would like to use.
  • All grinders will be brand new.
  • All grinders will have standard “Coffee” burrs installed.
  • If a competitor chooses to use a provided grinder, they will receive their grinder on-site before their scheduled practice time, at which point they become responsible for the grinder.
  • Competitors may not take sponsor grinders off-site.
  • Competitors will return their grinder(s) to the sponsor once they are done with their competition time.
  • If a grinder is not returned in good condition, the competitor will be invoiced.
  • Competitors may not internally modify their grinders or install any other parts.

Q: Can I bring my own grinder to WBC?
A: Yes, see Option B in the table above. Please note the rules around bringing your own grinder, in the question below

Q: What are the rules around bringing my own grinder to the WBC?
A: The following rules apply:

  • In the case of a competitor bringing their own grinder, that grinder must be one of the approved models, with the “Coffee” burr-set and only manufacturer’s original parts installed, with no modifications or additions. See Option B in the table above.
  • Burr-alignment procedures or components that competitors have already applied on their personal grinders will not be considered “modifications” under the rules. All personal grinders will still need to be inspected and verified to be using manufacturer original parts, and the Coffee burr-set.
  • All grinders that competitors bring themselves will have their status verified by Mahlkönig prior to competitor practice time. A sticker will be applied to seal the grinder, which may not be opened from that point.
  • If it becomes necessary to open any grinder at any point, the grinder must be resubmitted to Mahlkönig for inspection and sealing.
  • All grinders will have their seals inspected before they are allowed on stage.
  • Competitors are responsible for ensuring that there is enough time for Mahlkönig to inspect and seal grinders before their competition time.

Q: I want to use a dosing lid that sits on top of the hopper, instead of the regular lid. Can this be used in competition?
A: No, any physical modification of the sponsored grinder is not allowed.

Q: Can I remove the chaff from my coffee by pre-grinding backstage using one grinder, before using the mandatory grinder onstage?
A: As long as the provided grinder is used onstage during competition time, this will be allowed.

 

WBrC

Q: What grinder will be provided for WBrC?
A: The provided grinder at the WBrC is the Ditting 807 Lab Sweet grinder.

Q: Can I bring my own grinder to WBrC?
A: Yes, competitors may use their own grinders backstage. A competitor may also bring their own Ditting 807 Lab Sweet grinder for use backstage. Competitors’ own grinders for use backstage do not require verification, as in WBC & WCIGS.

 

WCIGS

Q: What grinders will be provided for WCIGS?
A: See Option A in the table above.

Q: What are the rules around sponsor-provided grinders for the WCIGS?
A: The sponsor-provided grinders in 2021 are listed in Option A in the table above. The following rules apply to sponsor-provided grinders:

  • During online registration, competitors will be asked to select whether they intend to bring their own grinders, or use the provided grinders, and if they intend to use provided grinders, what model(s) they would like to use.
  • All grinders will be brand new.
  • All grinders will have standard “Coffee” burrs installed.
  • If a competitor chooses to use a provided grinder, they will receive their grinder on-site before their scheduled practice time, at which point they become responsible for the grinder.
  • Competitors may not take sponsor grinders off-site.
  • Competitors will return their grinder(s) to the sponsor once they are done with their competition time.
  • If a grinder is not returned in good condition, the competitor will be invoiced.
  • Competitors may not internally modify their grinders or install any other parts.

Q: Can I bring my own grinder to the WCIGS?
A: Yes, see Option B in the table above. Please note the rules around bringing your own grinder, in the question below. 

Q: What are the rules around bringing my own grinder to the WCIGS?
A: The following rules apply:

  • In the case of a competitor bringing their own grinder, that grinder must be one of the approved models, with the “Coffee” burr-set and only manufacturer’s original parts installed, with no modifications or additions. See Option B in the table above.
  • Burr-alignment procedures or components that competitors have already applied on their personal grinders will not be considered “modifications” under the rules. All personal grinders will still need to be inspected and verified to be using manufacturer original parts, and the Coffee burr-set.
  • All grinders that competitors bring themselves will have their status verified by Mahlkönig prior to competitor practice time. A sticker will be applied to seal the grinder, which may not be opened from that point.
  • If it becomes necessary to open any grinder at any point, the grinder must be resubmitted to Mahlkönig for inspection and sealing.
  • All grinders will have their seals inspected before they are allowed on stage.
  • Competitors are responsible for ensuring that there is enough time for Mahlkönig to inspect and seal grinders before their competition time.

WLAC

Q: What grinders will be provided for WLAC?
A: Provided grinders at the WLAC are the Anfim SP II+.

Q: Can I bring my own grinder to WLAC?
A: No, competitors can only use the provided Anfim SP II+.