Source: World Coffee Roasting Championship 2026 – Brussels |
Author: Qahwa World |
Date: June 28, 2026

Belgian Crowned 2026 World Coffee Roasting Champion in Brussels

Key Takeaways:

Benjamin Brassart from Belgium was crowned World Coffee Roasting Champion 2026.
The championship was held in Brussels with top roasters from around the world.
Competitors were evaluated on sample roasting, production roasting, and sensory evaluation.
Finalists from China, Greece, Chinese Taipei, and Austria delivered exceptional performances.
The championship was presented by InterAmerican Coffee.

Benjamin Brassart from Belgium was crowned the 2026 World Coffee Roasting Champion at the conclusion of the World Coffee Roasting Championship held in Brussels over several days. His victory came after intense competition with top roasters from around the world, demonstrating exceptional precision across all evaluation stages.

The championship, organized by the Specialty Coffee Association and presented by InterAmerican Coffee, provided a global platform to evaluate technical skills in coffee evaluation, preparation, blending, and roasting.

Championship Details: Precision Roasting and Sensory Mastery

The championship tested competitors in three key areas: sample roasting, production roasting, and sensory evaluation. Brassart demonstrated superiority in all areas, earning him the title. Judges praised the precision of his roasts and his ability to extract the best flavors from different coffee beans.

Rank	Name	Country
Champion	Benjamin Brassart	Belgium
Runner-up	Li Zhong Xiang	China
3rd Place	Thanasis Angelopoulos	Greece
4th Place	Ashton Huang	Chinese Taipei
5th Place	Andrea Trevisan	Austria
6th Place	Wang JianNing	China

World Roasting Championship: A Platform for Creativity and Excellence

The World Coffee Roasting Championship is one of the most prominent competitive events in the specialty coffee sector, bringing together the best roasters from around the world to share expertise and demonstrate their skills in transforming green coffee beans into a finished product with integrated flavors. “These competitors represent the pinnacle of coffee roasting,” said organizers. “Through precision roasting and sensory evaluation mastery, their work inspires the entire industry.”

Frequently Asked Questions About the 2026 World Coffee Roasting Championship

Q: When and where was the championship held?

A: It was held in Brussels, Belgium, from June 27 to 28, 2026.

Q: Who is the 2026 World Coffee Roasting Champion?

A: Benjamin Brassart from Belgium.

Q: Which countries had finalists in the championship?

A: Belgium, China, Greece, Chinese Taipei, and Austria.

Q: Who organized the championship?

A: The Specialty Coffee Association, presented by InterAmerican Coffee.

Q: What are the evaluation areas in the championship?

A: Sample roasting, production roasting, and sensory evaluation.

The World Coffee Roasting Championship provides an unparalleled platform for showcasing technical skills and creativity in the specialty coffee industry. Benjamin Brassart’s victory demonstrates that the future of coffee roasting is in excellent hands, inspiring the next generation of coffee professionals around the world.

Prepared and edited by: Qahwa World – Based on official announcements from the 2026 World Coffee Roasting Championship.

Publication date: June 28, 2026

The Specialty Coffee Association (SCA) proudly announces the selection of “Stronghold” as the Official Production Roaster Sponsor for the 2024-2027 World Coffee Roasting Championship (WCRC), providing the Stronghold SX9 machine for the 2024 WCRC. The production roaster is a crucial component of WCRC equipment, utilized by national champions in their practice and production roasting for both single-origin coffees and blends.

The WCRC is the annual event of the World Coffee Championship (WCC) that recognizes excellence in coffee roasting, evaluating competitors based on their coffee assessment, preparation, blending, and overall skills in practice, sample, and production roasts. The competition has experienced significant growth in recent years, with 130 competitors participating in the eight editions since its inception in 2013.

The World Coffee Championships (WCC) thrive thanks to the support and dedication of a diverse array of organizations and individuals. Qualified sponsors, the manufacturers providing the equipment used by competitors on stage, are integral to this support. In addition to supporting broader SCA programming, qualified sponsors sign multi-year agreements to foster the strategic growth of the competitions and dedicate time and resources to ensure that every world championship competitor uses the same high-quality equipment.

“Stronghold is a fantastic partner, and we are delighted to welcome them as the official production roaster for the 2024-2027 World Coffee Roasting Championships as we see this competition grow,” said Yannis Apostolopoulos, SCA Chief Executive Officer. “Stronghold has been an excellent partner in several other SCA initiatives and events of the past few years, and we couldn’t be more delighted to enter this long-term partnership with them.”

“At Stronghold, we are dedicated to pushing the boundaries of roasting technology, with our environmental and sustainability goals in mind,” said Jason Woo, Stronghold Chief Executive Officer. “As we usher in the era of all-electric commercial roasting, we are thrilled that our efforts have been acknowledged, being selected as the official production equipment for the prestigious World Coffee Roasting Championship. This marks a significant step forward for us, challenging the industry norm and bringing an economically and environmentally sustainable future to the global stage.”

Stronghold will support the World Coffee Roasting Championship as the official production roaster sponsor, starting with the 2024 event hosted at World of Coffee Copenhagen, Denmark, in June. We look forward to an exciting partnership over the coming years.

Tag: World Coffee Roasting Championship