30/05/2026
A championship is never built in a single day.
Since 2025, Asairi Coffee Roaster has had the privilege of coaching Wong Li Ye from Hurryhari Coffee throughout his Brewers Cup journey.
When Li Ye first approached us, he wasn’t chasing a trophy. He wanted to become a better brewer, develop a deeper understanding of specialty coffee, and challenge himself through competition.
Over the past two years, countless hours were spent refining not only brewing techniques, but also the thinking behind every decision.
For the 2026 Malaysia Open Brewers Cup, our focus was clear: Natural Sweetness.
As a coach, Xy Wu’s role was to ensure every element—from coffee selection, roasting approach, blend composition, water chemistry, brewing strategy, and presentation concept—worked together to support a single message.
The journey involved evaluating different roast developments, dehydration percentages, and roast expansions to understand how sweetness and clarity could be enhanced in the cup. Various blend ratios between Panama Janson Lot 908 Natural and Ethiopia ALO Special Washed were tested, alongside extensive water recipe trials from Apax Lab, Aquacode, and Third Wave Water.
Beyond the competition coffee itself, monthly calibration sessions with coffees from different roasters around the world helped sharpen sensory awareness and strengthen the ability to quickly understand and brew unfamiliar coffees—an essential skill in compulsory service.
The final competition coffee was never the result of a single recipe. It was the culmination of hundreds of brews, countless discussions, continuous refinement, and a shared commitment to understanding how every decision influences the final cup.
Today, we’re incredibly proud to see Li Ye crowned Malaysia Open Brewers Cup Champion 2026.
Congratulations, Li Ye.
Thank you for your trust, dedication, and relentless pursuit of improvement. This achievement is a reminder that great performances are built long before stepping onto the competition stage.
_.wong .kai .plslovemyself .et .uk
