Brewmethods Hosts Origami Cup Australia 2024
On the evening of August 8th, Australia’s coffee lovers came together for a special event—the first-ever Origami Cup, proudly hosted by BREWMETHODS, in partnership with BENCH COFFEE CO.
Last year, this exciting coffee competition started in Tokyo, and we’ve been eager to bring it to Australia ever since. The response was fantastic: tickets for competitors sold out in minutes, and the event drew a crowd of over 100 excited spectators.
The evening centreed around eighteen skilled coffee makers who took to the stage to brew their best coffee using only the Origami Dripper, trying to impress a panel of judges by extracting the finest flavours from a washed Colombian Gesha coffee, courtesy of our friends at CafeImports. It was a tough knockout competition, and judges had to pick the winners based only on the taste of their coffee.
Contestants showcased their innovative brewing techniques and skills that highlighted their deep understanding and creativity in coffee brewing. Each participant had their own unique approach to using the Origami Dripper, which is coveted for its versatility and brewing possibilities.
Some competitors experimented with different pouring methods, altering the speed and consistency of the water flow to extract more nuanced flavours from the coffee. Others focused on the grind size and water temperature, fine-tuning these variables to achieve the perfect balance between acidity and sweetness in their brew.
Additionally, a few brewers incorporated unconventional tools like Lily Drip or special filters, and some went to the lengths of crafting their own water profiles, and tweaking post extraction with products like Apax Lab to further refine the taste of their brew.
The competition was fierce, culminating in a vibrant celebration of talent and precision as only three brewers ascended the podium, with one distinguished as the Australian Origami Cup Champion.
A massive congratulations to our Top Three:
- Gerard Liew, whose mastery earned him the coveted Gold Origami Dripper, and an all-expenses-paid trip to Japan for the Origami Cup Japan 2024, an Apax Lab Box Set and a tin of Brew Methods Special Reserve – Lot 18 Cafe Granja La Esperanza
- Chan Aung, who captured second place, taking home a Silver Origami Dripper, an Apax Lab Box Set, and a tin of Brew Methods Special Reserve – Los Nogales Tabi Decaf.
- Kingsley Nguyen – clinching third place, leaving with a Bronze Origami Dripper , an Apax Lab Box Set, and a tin of Brew Methods Special Reserve – Los Nogales Tabi Decaf.
The night was more than just a coffee competition; it was a grand celebration of creativity, community spirit, and, of course, our shared passion for the Origami Dripper!
This fantastic evening wouldn’t have been possible without our amazing sponsors and some incredible people who made the event truly special.
A huge thank you to BENCH COFFEE CO. for partnering with us. Your beautiful venue and flawless coordination made the night run smoothly, and we couldn’t have asked for a better team to work with!
We’re also immensely grateful to Danni Choy from Oatly, who not only supported the event but also kept everyone entertained with a playful Origami Frog Race that quickly became a highlight of the evening. Thanks to Fran Lee of CafeImports for generously donating the competition coffee and serving as a guest judge, enhancing the competition’s credibility and excitement. A shout-out to Apax Lab for their generous gifts of Apax Lab Box Sets for the competitors and prizes, and a big thank you to Origami Dripper Australia, representing Origami Japan here down under!
Special appreciation goes to Hany Ezzat of Ni Wares, whose dynamic MCing added so much fun to our evening. Your presence and energy kept everyone engaged and made the event unforgettable!
We are incredibly thankful for everyone’s enthusiasm and support, which made the first Australian Origami Cup a resounding success. We can’t wait to host more events like this and continue celebrating the amazing world of coffee.
For those of you curious about the brewing methods used, we’ve gathered all the finalist recipes below for you to try and enjoy!
