Venue confirmed. Roasting partner locked. The most objective espresso competition in the world is coming to Panama City — and we are bringing the country's finest coffee with us.
WEC 2026 will take place in Panama City, Panama. The venue is locked, the dates are set for October 2026, and we are ready to host 32 competitors from around the world.
We are proud to announce Cafe Unido as the official roasting partner of WEC 2026 Panama. Founded in 2014 by Benito Bermudez and Mario Castrellon, Cafe Unido has become the definitive name in Panamanian specialty coffee.
Unido sources 100% Panamanian beans from over 50 farms across the Boquete and Volcan regions — including the legendary Geisha variety. Their commitment to direct trade, transparent sourcing, and precision roasting makes them the perfect partner for a competition built on fairness and quality.
Cafe Unido operates 9 locations across Panama City, a cafe in Boquete, and two locations in Washington, D.C. They work exclusively with sustainable coffee farms, pay at least triple the commodity price, and return 10% of all income to coffee-growing communities through the Cafe Unido Foundation.
Every espresso served at WEC 2026 will be roasted by Cafe Unido using beans sourced directly from Panamanian farms. Competitors will work with the same coffee, roasted to the same standard — ensuring the only variable is the barista's skill. That's the WEC way.
32 spots. 12 already confirmed. Registration closes 15 September 2026 or when capacity is reached — whichever comes first.