a. The competition is a multi-round elimination tournament.
b. In each round, using the AeroPress, two or three contestants brew coffee simultaneously.
c. Contestants have 5 minutes to prepare and present their coffee.
d. When the time is up, the coffees are presented in identical containers to a group of judges.
e. Judges blindly rate each coffee and make their personal judgment as to which is the best.
f. "On three" all judges simultaneously indicate their preferred coffee.
g. The winner moves on to the next round. Losers are eliminated.

a. Competitors must use AeroPress Original or AeroPress Clear.
b. All AeroPress components must be used, including the chamber, piston and original filter cap.
c. Other versions of the AeroPress, including but not limited to Go, XL, Premium and the Flow Control Filter Cap are not permitted in the competition.
d. Competitors may use AeroPress World Championship issued and custom painted AeroPress trophies provided they are made from unaltered and original AeroPress Original or Clear.
e. No other method of coffee preparation is permitted for use at any time during the competition. This includes but is not limited to brewing methods such as French presses, V60, Chemex, siphon, or any other alternative coffee brewing equipment.

a. Any type or brand of filter is acceptable as long as it does not replace the AeroPress filter cap.
b. Filters may be made of paper, metal, cloth or any other material provided it is neutral in taste and does not add flavour to the brewed coffee.
c. The filter must fit inside the filter cap when attached to the chamber and also be the primary mechanism through which the brewed coffee is filtered.

a. Accessories to help with coffee preparation such as grinders, kettles, carafes, scales, stirrers, spoons, timers, thermometers, brew stands, sieves, RDT (Ross Droplet Technique) tools, WDT (Weiss Distribution Technique) tools, cooling stones (frozen balls) and water dispersants are permitted for use in competitions.
b. All accessories must comply with the rules specifically stated in "AeroPress Specifications and Restrictions" and should not contradict to any other competition rules.

a. Only ground coffee and water are allowed as ingredients.
b. If the hosts have specified and provided a competition coffee, that is the only coffee that may be used.
c. If the hosts have specified and provided water for the competition, this is the only water that may be used.
d. A maximum of 18g of ground coffee is allowed in each recipe.
e. Competitors are required to prepare a minimum of 150 g of instant coffee.
f. Competitors may add bypass water of any temperature to the brewed coffee.
g. Ready coffee not presented within the 5 minute time limit shall not be scored.

a. Unless the hosts have specified and provided water for the competition, contestants may bring their own water to use in their recipe.
b. Water should have a “neutral” taste and not be noticeably sweetened or altered.
c. The Chief Judge reserves the right to sample the water and may refuse its use if he deems it to be inappropriately sweetened.
d. Ice is allowed in recipes and water of any temperature for bypass.
e. The same standards applied to brew water apply to both ice water and bypass water.

a. Each round is scored using the blind cupping technique (spoon, sip, spit).
b. Competitors' names and/or countries are marked on the underside of the cups to remain hidden.
c. There is no official protocol. Judges simply state their preferred choice of coffee.
d. Each judge reaches his conclusion independently without discussion with fellow judges.
e. On the count of three, the judges point simultaneously, confidently and emphatically to their chosen cup.
f. The MC reveals the winner of the round by raising the winning cup.
g. In the event of a tie, when all judges indicate different cups, a pre-designated head judge will taste all samples and determine the winner. This decision is final.

a. Before each round, contestants can preheat the brewing water, sort and select coffee beans, weigh coffee doses and place the filter in the filter cap.

a. Once on stage, but before the race time starts, competitors will have a few minutes to prepare.
b. Competitors may:
i. Turn on the kettle or other equipment.
ii. Place preparation equipment in place.
iii. They preheat the water in the kettle
iv. and everything else permitted in "Pre-Competition Preparation"
c. Contestants may not:
i. Rinse the filter
ii. Preheat/cool the AeroPress and vessels
iii. Add coffee to the coffee grinder or grind the coffee.

a. Within the 5 minute competition time competitors must:
i. Preheat or cool the AeroPress and vessels as needed.
ii. Grind the coffee.
iii. Prepare the recipe
iv. Pour all the brewed coffee into the judging vessel.

a. Competitors of all ages are eligible to compete.
b. Competitors are not required to hold a passport, citizenship or permanent residence in the country in which they are competing.
c. Persons employed in a management or leadership position in the host organisation may not compete in any event hosted by the organisation. This includes owners, managers, directors, executives and senior staff.
d. Individuals with an ownership interest in a host organisation are not eligible to compete in regional or national competitions for any season in which their organisation hosts an event.
e. Employees, contractors and freelancers who are significantly involved in competition activities, such as event coordinators, event managers or direct contacts of the organisers, are also ineligible to compete in regional or national competitions for any season in which their employer is hosting an event.

a. In the event that a National Champion is unable to travel or unable to obtain a visa to travel to the World Finals, eligibility shall pass to the 2nd place winner of that National Competition.
b. If the 2nd place winner is unable to attend, eligibility passes to the 3rd place winner.
c. Eligibility does not extend beyond this, nor is it transferable to another person.
d. Eligibility does not "carry over" to future seasons.

a. In the event that the 1st, 2nd and 3rd place winners are unable to travel to the World Finals, the Host will award the National Champion a consolation cash prize.
b. The award must be equal to at least 50% of the estimated travel expenses that would be incurred to attend the World Final. For example: Hotel accommodation - 3 nights @ $200/night = $600 Travel - Round trip flights from Melbourne = $3000 Total = $3600 Prize money @ 50% value = $1800c. Prize value must be verified and approved by the AeroPress World Championship.
d. The prize money must be paid in cash or by bank transfer, directly to the winner, within 7 days of approval of the value.e. This consolation prize is only a last resort. The national champions are expected to participate in the world final and the hosts are expected to send them there.

a. All complaints or disputes at the regional or national level should be directed to the event host.
b. If the problem is not resolved or for complaints at the World Finals level, a clear and concise explanation of the problem must be sent to hello@aero.press.
c. Complaints via social media comments or direct messages will not be entertained.