HOUSTON, TX (June 16, 2026) — Slow Pour Supply announces ORIGAMI CUP USA 2026, a national pourover competition taking place August 1, 2026, at the historic Niels Esperson Building in downtown Houston, Texas. The event brings together 18 elite brewers from around the country to compete for the title of ORIGAMI CUP USA Champion 2026.
Pourover coffee brewing is a collaborative discipline, shaped by the hands of producers, importers, roasters, equipment makers, distributors, and baristas. Origami Cup USA 2026 honors every contributor along that journey, placing craft and community at the center of competition.
Competitors will brew a compulsory coffee using the Origami small dripper, a handcrafted porcelain dripper made in Toki City, Japan, carrying over 400 years of Mino-yaki tradition. The dripper has been used by multiple Brewers Cup competitors and national champions worldwide and is recognized globally for its precision and performance. The competition will unfold across three rounds, with judges evaluating each cup for excellence.
This is the second year of the ORIGAMI CUP USA. The event is hosted by Slow Pour Supply, the official U.S. distributor of ORIGAMI. Anita Tam, owner of Slow Pour Supply and a past chairperson of the U.S. Coffee Championships, will lead the event alongside Kendra Sledzinski, head judge of the U.S. Brewers Cup and a World Brewers Cup judge. A distinguished panel of U.S. Brewers Cup champions and certified judges will determine the Origami Cup USA Champion 2026. The champion of this competition will be representing the United States at the World Origami Cup in Japan tentatively scheduled in Spring 2027.
The Champion will receive a Winner’s Trophy, admission to the ORIGAMI CUP World Championship, an Acaia Pearl S Scale, a special ORIGAMI Dripper, a Nucleus Paragon Pourover Stand, an Apax Lab water minerals concentration set, and additional prizes. The top three finishers will each receive a custom trophy handcrafted by the ORIGAMI factory.
Why the ORIGAMI CUP belongs in the Niels Esperson Building
The competition will be held at 808 Travis St., Houston, TX 77002, inside the Niels Esperson Building, a 32-story Italian Renaissance landmark completed in 1927 and the only complete example of its kind in Houston. The pairing of this architectural landmark with the Origami Dripper reflects a shared philosophy of devotion to craft, precision, and enduring tradition.
Partners and Sponsors
ORIGAMI CUP USA 2026 is made possible through the support of its official partners: Amaya Roasting Co. (Roasting Partner), Geva Coffee (Equipment Sponsor), APAX LAB (Water Mineral Sponsor), Urnex Brands (Cleaning Product Sponsor), and Greenway Coffee (Hospitality Sponsor). Prize sponsors include Acaia, Nucleus Coffee Tools, Fifth Vessel Coffee Co, and more.
Event DetailsEvent Name: ORIGAMI CUP USA 2026 – (Link to event)Date: August 1st, 2026, starting at 9amLocation: 808 Travis St. #200 Houston, TX 77002Google Map
The ORIGAMI CUP is an official event by ORIGAMI Japan
Official HostSlow Pour Supply
Coffee & Roasting SponsorAmaya Roasting Co.
Equipment SponsorGeva Coffee
Hospitality SponsorGreenway Coffee
Cleaning Product SponsorUrnex Brands
Smallware SponsorNucleus Coffee Tools
Grinder SponsorWPM Welhome Pro
Water Minerals SponsorApax Lab
Prize SponsorAcaia, Fifth Vessel Coffee Co.
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