Bluewater USA has been appointed the official water partner for the 2026 United States Coffee Competition series, providing technology to purify and customize water for competitors. The partnership begins at the U.S. Roasters Championship in Houston from February 27 to March 1, where 24 top roasters will vie for the national title. This collaboration highlights the importance of water quality in specialty coffee production.
The announcement, made on February 27, 2026, from Stockholm, Sweden, marks a significant expansion for Bluewater in the American specialty coffee sector. Bluewater USA will supply its Café Station technology, which allows baristas and roasters to adjust total dissolved solids (TDS) and mineral content, including calcium and magnesium, to optimize coffee flavors. As Niklas Ivarsson, Bluewater USA president, stated: “This is a big step for Bluewater as we blaze a new innovation trail for coffee professionals with our Bluewater Café Station. It’s already won huge acclaim in global markets because it gives baristas and coffee shops full control over the water they use. For example, the Café Station allows users to adjust total dissolved solids (TDS) and fine-tune mineral content, such as calcium and magnesium, to bring out the best in every roast. When you’re chasing the perfect roast, water matters just as much as the beans.”
The U.S. Roasters Championship, part of the United States Coffee Competition (USCC) series organized by Roastronix—the official event partner of the Specialty Coffee Association—features competitors demonstrating skills in green coffee evaluation, roast profiling, and sensory analysis. The event unfolds over three days: Day 1 involves roasting competitions on the Stronghold S7X, with heats of four starting at 8:00 AM CST, each lasting 90 minutes for evaluation and production roasts. Day 2 includes audience interactions, such as live interviews on roast strategies and tastings of the previous day's coffees. Day 3 concludes with the awards ceremony, crowning the U.S. Coffee Roasting Champion, who will represent the United States at the World Coffee Roasting Championship during World of Coffee 2026 in Brussels in June.
Coffee, which is 98 percent water, often suffers from inconsistent local supplies, but the Bluewater Café Station enables precise purification and remineralization for consistent flavor. Ivarsson added: “Bluewater’s role as water partner underlines a mutual belief: great coffee starts with great ingredients, and water is at the heart of it.”
Bluewater, founded in 2013 in Stockholm, specializes in planet-friendly water purification solutions used worldwide in homes, businesses, and events. The company has earned awards like two Fast Company World Changing Ideas Awards and GOOD DESIGN® Awards for 2024 and 2025.