Fresh back from Brussels: Sierra just competed at the World Brewers Cup 2026, and in this episode she sits down with Ingo to watch her own routine together — pausing along the way to unpack the details behind every pour.

From a brand-new vacuum degassing tool to a strict 10-minute clock that punishes every second over the limit, this is a behind-the-scenes look at what it actually takes to compete on coffee's biggest stage.In this conversation:🔥 Sierra's full World Brewers Cup performance, rewatched and broken down together🔥 How the score sheet works: bottom boxes, accuracy, and quality scoring explained🔥 A massive European heat wave and how it forced last-minute changes to coffee storage🔥 TIMEMORE's new vacuum tool, built to hit the "Goldilocks zone" between CO2 and oxidation🔥 Two kettles, two pour styles — why Sierra switches mid-routine🔥 What sensory judges, shadow judges, and head judges are each actually scoring🔥 Brewing three coffees in parallel under serious time pressure🔥 The dripper, booster, and server setup behind her cup🔥 A fresh 2026 harvest natural Geisha from Mt. Totumas, Panama🔥 Why a strong team behind the scenes makes or breaks a competition run🔥 Sierra's honest answer: should you compete in a Brewers Cup yourself?

Sierra represented Switzerland at the World Brewers Cup 2026 after winning the Swiss Brewers Cup. 46 countries competed this year. Competitors get 10 minutes to brew 3 coffees, losing 0.5 points for every second over — Sierra finished at 9 minutes 44 seconds, in a year so tight that 6th and 7th place ended up tied. Judges score across 6 attributes: aroma, flavor, acidity, sweetness, aftertaste, and mouthfeel. A new grinder rule this year limited the entire grind-to-brew window to 18 minutes total.

☕ About Roast RebelsRoast Rebels is Europe's go-to platform for specialty coffee roasting — small-scale roasting machines, high-quality green coffee, and courses for home roasters and professionals. Service centers in Germany and Switzerland, free shipping across the EU.

Sierra, featured in this episode, is Roast Rebels' content manager and green coffee buyer, and the 2026 Swiss Brewers Cup Champion.Shop: https://roastrebels.com/en
Academy: https://academy.roastrebels.com