Every competitor matters. Every volunteer matters. Every person behind the cup matters.
This October, I’M NOT A BARISTA is proud to contribute 180 specially designed charity wristbands to the 2026 China AeroPress Championship, taking place in Guiyang, China, from October 26–28. Every competitor, volunteer, and organizing team member will receive a wristband as a small thank-you for being part of this year’s championship.
But these aren’t just souvenirs. They’re a reminder that everyone has a place in the coffee community.
A Small Wristband, A Bigger Meaning
Since launching our charity wristband project in 2022, we’ve worked with coffee people and creative partners around the world to turn a simple everyday accessory into something meaningful. Each wristband represents a story, a connection, and our shared belief that coffee can bring people together and create positive change.
For this year’s championship, we’re sharing 180 wristbands designed by CK, a café owner, DJ, and creative collaborator from Hong Kong. CK first became part of the I’M NOT A BARISTA community through our charity wristband project. What started as a creative collaboration eventually brought us together in Hong Kong, where we organized a small coffee workshop and connected with more local coffee lovers.
Now, that same connection continues in Guiyang. It’s a small example of something we believe deeply: when people share a passion and are willing to contribute, one project can lead to another, sometimes in places you never expected.
More Than Just the Champion
At the end of the championship, one competitor will earn the title of 2026 China AeroPress Champion and the opportunity to represent China at the World AeroPress Championship in Mexico City. But what about everyone else? The competitors who traveled across China to participate. The volunteers who spent their time helping behind the scenes. The organizers who worked to bring the event to life.
We believe their contributions deserve recognition, too. That’s why we wanted every one of them to receive something they could take home. Not an award for winning, but a reminder of belonging. You don’t need to win a championship to be an important part of the coffee community.
From Hong Kong to Guiyang, Connected Through Coffee
I’M NOT A BARISTA is supporting this year’s championship through volunteer work, creative contributions, storytelling, and community connections. Our involvement began through our relationship with Outman Coffee Roastery, which previously supported our international charity cupping initiative by roasting coffee for the project. When the opportunity came to help bring the 2026 China AeroPress Championship to life, we said yes.
Not because organizing a championship was part of our original plan, but because we believed in what it could mean for the coffee community. The wristbands are one small part of that commitment. They’re also a reflection of how communities grow: through people meeting, sharing ideas, supporting one another, and finding new reasons to work together.
One City. One Community. One Championship.
When everyone gathers in Guiyang this October, we hope these wristbands become more than something people wear during the event. Perhaps they’ll start conversations between strangers. Perhaps someone will meet a future business partner, collaborator, or lifelong friend. And perhaps, years from now, someone will look at their wristband and remember the people they met at the 2026 China AeroPress Championship. Because long after the competition ends, the relationships we build can continue.
180 wristbands. 180 small reminders that everyone matters.
See you in Guiyang.
Humanity Runs on Coffee.
