First draw, through Rock-Paper-Scissors: Coffee

• Which coffee should I choose?
  The one whose process, variety, altitude, or region I know best, whether that knowledge is basic or advanced doesn’t matter. The more I know about it, the more of an advantage I might have.
• What if I don’t get to choose the coffee?
  I’m not lost. I do the best I can with the information the coffee gives me, and I act accordingly.

Second draw, through Rock-Paper-Scissors: Brewing Method

• The most important variable is the first one, but the second is not just filler.
• We’ll let you know which methods will be used later, but we can assure you there will be immersion, conical bottom, and flat bottom brewers.
• I need to match the brewing method to the coffee information I have. If it’s a high-altitude coffee, it may have a lot of acidity. The processing method will tell me whether I want to highlight or counterbalance certain attributes. If I know the coffee has a lot of body, I might choose a more balanced method to soften the cup.
• If, on top of that, there are methods I’m more skilled with, and they fit the coffee information, then that might be the right choice.
• What if I don’t get to choose the brewing method?
  I make the best of what I know… BUT I can also analyze my opponent’s choice to understand what they’re aiming for, and use that to my advantage.
• It’s worth noting that here, if supplies allow, participants can personally choose the filter. I’ll explain that variable soon.

Third draw, through Rock-Paper-Scissors: Dose

• Speed, Consistency
• This variable can be more changeable, but it’s still important.
• A low dose, minimum 10g, can be used for a shorter brew.
• Understanding the method and the coffee, I can adjust the grams to suit the desired brew speed. A higher dose, maximum 30g, can be used for the opposite approach.
• Dose choice will influence grind size, since that regulates the flow rate.
• Here, it’s less about who wins the draw and more about understanding what I can do with the information I have.

Fourth draw, through Rock-Paper-Scissors: Ratio

• Here’s where we close the strategy.
• If I win this draw, even if I lost the other three, I can change the game by deciding how much water both participants will use.
• With a minimum of 1g of coffee per 14g of water, and a maximum of 1g per 20g of water, I can even influence my opponent’s extraction.
• Water volume can help balance intense coffees or boost more muted ones. Balance is always important, but a balanced cup doesn’t always come from a “balanced” ratio.
• What if I don’t get to choose the ratio?
  I look for a solution using all the information I have from the three previous variables. Coffee, method, and dose, together they tell me the best possible approach.

Personal Variables

• Grind size: For example, if I have a flat coffee with a low dose and high water ratio, maybe a finer grind will help… but not too fine. Unless it’s part of my strategy, I want to avoid over-extraction. A coarser grind might work better in the opposite scenario.
• Filter: If my variables push me toward a finer grind, maybe I’ll choose a faster filter. I could also use it in less extreme situations — as long as I can control extraction speed. If I don’t want to take risks, I can stick with a filter I know well that matches my chosen method.
• Water temperature: This is key for many reasons — it determines extraction level and should match the flavor profile I want. We don’t want the judges burning their tongues, but this isn’t a cold brew contest either. Ideally, the cup should taste good from start to finish, and even reveal more complexity as it cools.

New for this edition: Each competitor may prepare their own water. Officially, water is now the fourth personal variable in Bloom Battles. Recommended brand for water preparation: APAX, but it’s not mandatory. Competitors may bring their own prepared or commercial water.

Once all the common and personal variables are ready, we justify our decisions.

From theory to action: you’ll have 8 minutes to prepare your coffee.

You can decide how many pours to make, at what timing and intensity. The coffee will guide your decisions in the moment, and if something needs adjusting, you can adapt.

You have enough time to work calmly. No need to rush, take your time so you can serve 150ml in the cup at an ideal temperature for the judges.

The moment of truth is in the judges’ palates. And like many games, part of it is beyond your control. Here, you have to trust in what you did.

Because without trust, there’s no confidence.

The good news? You don’t need to make the best coffee in the world, just one better than the person next to you.

If you analyzed all your variables well, adjusted your grind properly, chose the right filter, and hit the ideal temperature, your cup has a high chance of moving to the next round.

And if your opponent manages to edge you out, don’t worry, you just played one of the best battles in the competition.

Participant Guidelines

There is no age restriction for participation. Minors must have parental or legal guardian consent to compete.

Event Format

The competition consists of multiple elimination rounds.

See you at Bloom Battles,
The Future is Ours

Julio Navarro
Founder of Bloom Battles

(All formats and rules are protected by copyright.)