Laatst bijgewerkt op: 13/10/2026
The chances that you’ve ever heard of retired engineer Alan Adler are very slim. But for many coffee lovers, he may well be the figure of the century. His world-famous AeroPress went from invention to hype, from hype to phenomenon, even leading to actual championships.
After a successful career as an inventor of, among other things, popular Frisbees and other toys, Adler turned his attention to a problem that continues to occupy the world: how can I quickly and effectively make a delicious cup of coffee? This led to the unique little plastic device that can now be found in more and more kitchens and households and has become indispensable to most users.
Adler had always been an avid coffee drinker, but he could never find the ideal brewing method for his daily cup. In early 2004, Adler retreated to his workshop and, a year later, brought his revolutionary invention to market. His goal? To offer an inexpensive and quick alternative to cumbersome espresso machines.
He found inspiration in the medical field: he based his AeroPress on the principle of a hypodermic needle. The first part consists of a cylinder that has a removable plastic grid on one side—with space for a paper filter—and is completely open on the other side.
The second part—a slightly thinner tube with a rubber tip—fits snugly inside the first part. Water and ground coffee are combined in the first part and then pushed into a cup or mug using the second part, thanks to a layer of air between the brew and the rubber cap. Hence the name AeroPress.
The steady rise of the AeroPress is hard to separate from the Third Wave Coffee movement. This shift in coffee consumption—with a strong emphasis on quality, origin, and communication with consumers—emerged sometime at the beginning of the century and took the world by storm.
Here and there, bars and cafés began popping up that served only coffee, and where the staff—the baristas—seemed to be able to talk about nothing but coffee. The hype truly became a phenomenon, with actual championships were held among baristas.
As a counter-reaction—or rather, as a joke—a few people decided to organize their own AeroPress championship : who can brew the best cup of coffee with an AeroPress? No one could have guessed at the time that this lighthearted initiative would grow into an annual event with dozens of participating countries and considerable prestige.
It’s not a given that you’ll get to represent your country at the World AeroPress Championship. While there were hardly any participants for the national qualifiers in the beginning, now it’s all about reserving your spot early and preparing like hell. Comparing recipes, refining techniques, and delving into the mysterious world of water hardness are just a few of the things the average participant has to deal with.
The national championships in the Netherlands have been around for a very long time. For the past few years, the competition has been organized by Bonne Postma of Utrecht’s Keen Coffee. “We want to make it bigger and therefore more accessible, with our core value being an inclusive event that everyone can enjoy. Of course, the competition is important, but first and foremost, it should be an opportunity for coffee lovers to meet and exchange ideas and experiences,” says Bonne.
In Belgium, too, there has been a strong push for the AeroPress from day one. The Belgians soon began organizing national championships as well, and since then they have been among the most successful countries at world championships. The most notable figure is Jeff Verellen, head roaster at Caffènation in Antwerp and the only person on the planet to have been crowned champion twice.
Jeff: “I remember reading on the blog of Norwegian coffee pioneer Tim Wendelboe about a playful event at his bar—a competition with barely a handful of participants. The whole story had begun in his bar, and he shared the tale online. I was immediately intrigued, and a national championship soon followed right here in our bar.”
In recent years, Verellen hasn’t been able to secure a spot at the world championships, but he doesn’t really mind. “I’ve rarely taken any crazy risks with my recipe, which may have caused me to stray from the flavor profile every now and then. Maybe I also miss the rock-‘n-roll aspect of the competition a little, and it’s time for a new generation to knock me off the throne. Just put me on the judging panel every now and then.”
The 2023 Dutch AeroPress Championships will take place on September 16 at LE:EN in Utrecht. In Belgium, the preliminary rounds will take place on September 13 in Brussels, on September 14 in Liège, and on September 15 in Ghent. The top 9 contestants from each region will advance to the Belgian AeroPress Championships at Wide Awake Coffee Roastery in Brussels on September 16.
Curious about how you can brew delicious coffee with the AeroPress Go? Check out some AeroPress tips and tricks that make using it even easier.
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