• The World Espresso Awards recognise and highlight the world’s finest roasteries and the producers behind their coffees.
• The US & Canada version was held on 29 & 30 September 2025 in Houston, Texas.
• The general winner was Utopian Espresso, receiving the title of the perfect roaster within the area.
• US & Canada, Origin, and Europe Gold winners will compete on the world finals. These will happen on the Producer & Roaster Discussion board El Salvador on 26 & 27 March 2026, the place the world champion can be introduced.

On 29 & 30 September 2025, the US & Canada version of the World Espresso Awards, a contest that recognises the world’s finest roasteries and the producers who develop their coffees, passed off in Houston, Texas. 

The occasion featured a panel of business specialists who blind-judged baggage of roasted espresso submitted throughout a number of outlined classes. The competitors utilises an goal and clear scoring system, designed to offer actionable suggestions for each entrant, guaranteeing that roasters get hold of as a lot worth as attainable from their participation.

Learn on to seek out out who the winners are, how one can participate within the upcoming Europe version, and when the worldwide finals can be held.

Be taught extra in regards to the GCA right here.

The primary version of GCA recognises US & Canadian roasters

From small independents to regional and nationwide manufacturers, the World Espresso Awards invited roasters within the US and Canada to submit baggage of their most distinctive coffees throughout numerous classes. 

“Any roaster of any dimension can take part,” says Jayson Galvis, a two-time CoE worldwide lead decide, in addition to the Lead Choose for the US & Canada GCA competitors. “Furthermore, the entire judging suggestions is constructive, not punitive, so roasters get hold of as a lot worth from competing as attainable.” 

Designed to reward the general firm slightly than a person roaster, permitting corporations to strengthen their model identification, the GCA is a prestigious competitors that additionally recognises the producer who grew the espresso. 

“We’re proud to help an initiative that connects roasters with new clients and celebrates their onerous work,” says Mark Zhou, the founding father of MTPak Espresso, the US & Canada GCA Platinum Sponsor. “We share the identical objective of celebrating not solely glorious roasters, but in addition the producers behind every espresso.”

This bridges a niche within the business, acknowledging and elevating consciousness of excellence throughout the provision chain.

“Not like different competitions, the roaster submits the shape and sends the espresso, not the producer,” Jayson says. “It’s a simple course of that doesn’t create pointless, unfair logistical burdens for producers, who usually need to handle these when making use of for competitions.”

The awards additionally concentrate on roasted espresso slightly than inexperienced beans, offering a complete evaluation of high quality that encompasses all forms of espresso. These vary from mild roast washed coffees to well-roasted espresso tons, which are sometimes neglected in competitions but nonetheless attraction to shopper preferences.

“This competitors is about recognising all coffees, and acknowledging the optimistic, distinctive facets of every one,” says Henry Wilson, the founding father of GCA and PRF. “Participating is a small funding to obtain constructive, actionable suggestions, and roasters additionally achieve world publicity. 

“We’re serving to to drive consumption. Past assigning espresso a numerical rating, the judges present constructive feedback on the roast profiles, in addition to counsel meals pairings,” he provides. “In the end, the GCA is about how we might help roasters promote extra espresso”.

The classes are designed to recognise the distinctive qualities of various coffee-based drinks, slightly than relying solely on cupping. Moreover, the subcategories recognise all kinds of processing strategies, guaranteeing judges can consider them independently.

How does the GCA work?

A panel of certified, unbiased specialists judged all coffees blind to get rid of bias. This ensured that any entry, whatever the dimension of the roastery, may stand out.

The panel consisted of 1 lead decide, 9 licensed Q-grader sensory judges, a number of shadow judges, and coordinator judges. The day earlier than the occasion, all judges calibrated their palates and agreed on the perfect brew ratios and standardised brewing processes. 

As a part of the calibration course of, judges and coordinators ranked the coffees from mild to darkish roast profiles to keep away from palate fatigue. All through the occasion, all judges had been calibrated to keep up consistency and accuracy, and judges had common breaks.

An goal and clear scoring system was used for each entrant throughout all classes. These embrace Filter Espresso, Espresso, Flat White with Dairy, and Flat White with Different Milk. Every class comprises a number of subcategories, with as much as three factors accessible for every espresso.

The coffees in every class had been ready as a shopper would expertise them in a espresso store, guaranteeing honest and correct real-world evaluation:

• Filter: ready utilizing Bentwood H75 grinders, Tone 03 brewers, and Hario V60s supplied by Gear Suppliers GH Grinding + Brewing Options and Geva Espresso
• Espresso: ready utilizing Pinecone Siberian grinders, Sanremo espresso machines, and a PuqPress, additionally supplied by GH Grinding + Brewing Options and Geva Espresso
• Flat White with Dairy and Flat White with Different Milk: ready utilizing the automated MilkPal, supplied by Gear Provider Marco Beverage Techniques

“This analysis system affords exact suggestions, not solely within the context of tasting, but in addition by way of the drinks which might be often consumed by the individuals who purchase from these roasters,” says Mario Idrovo, a barista professional and a sensory decide on the US & Canada competitors. “High quality management is often completed solely via conventional cuppings, so the GCA is progressive by way of the way it analyses espresso flavour and high quality.”

The scoring system for every class included:

• Judging kind – supplied a numerical rating throughout a number of standards and a sensory snapshot (tasting notes and key descriptors)
• A coordinator kind – supplied a sensory snapshot, steering on easy methods to enhance roast profile improvement, and meals pairing options from the judges

“For each pattern, a coordinator labored with two to 3 judges,” Henry explains. “We ready every pattern utilizing the very same particular brew ratios and brewing protocols. The judges obtained every pattern with a corresponding quantity.”

For the Filter and Espresso classes, the judges assigned numerical scores between 5 and 10 for 9 standards, together with aroma, flavour, aftertaste, acidity, sweetness, and stability. For each Flat White classes, numerical scores got for 5 standards, together with sweetness, stability, and mouthfeel.

The judges additionally famous down any qualitative factors. The coordinator then led a dialogue with the judges to debate their suggestions intimately, guaranteeing that every one judges had been aligned with each other.

The GCA Origin competitors, open completely to roasters in producing nations, additionally lately passed off, with the winners and extra particulars to be introduced quickly. The European version can be held on 28 & 29 October 2025 in Bordeaux, France. You possibly can submit coffees right here and speak to Emi Rueda, the GCA Affiliate Venture Supervisor, by way of WhatsApp right here for extra info.

Who gained on the GCA US & Canada?

The winners of the GCA US & Canada competitors are:

Total winner: Utopian Espresso in Fort Wayne, Indiana, US

Class winners:

• Filter – Stamp Act Espresso in Seattle, Washington, US
• Espresso – Utopian Espresso
• Flat White Dairy – Candy Bloom in Denver, Colorado, US
• Flat White Different – Utopian Espresso

For subcategories, entrants who obtained similar numerical scores each positioned first to make sure equity and parity.

Gold winners of every sub-category (roaster and producer):

Filter

• Mix
• Single origin conventional – Hambela, Candy Bloom and a number of smallholder producers in Ethiopia
• Single origin experimental
• Washed – Gesha, Phil & Sebastian Espresso Roasters in Calgary, Canada and Jose Joaquin Bolaños in Huila, Colombia
• Pure – Ethiopia Bombe Pure, Tipico Espresso Roasters in New York, US and Ayla Besna washing station in Sidamo, Ethiopia
• Honey – Gesha Spirit, Cafe Kreyol in Virginia, US and Vergel Property in Tolima, Colombia
• Experimental – Regalia Espresso in New York, US and Morkie web site in Sidama, Ethiopia
• Decaf – Condor EA Decaf, Stamp Act and Vergel Property

Espresso

Flat White Dairy

• Mix – Duomo, Black Oak Espresso Roasters and a number of producers
• Single origin conventional – Candy Bloom and a number of smallholder producers in Hambela, Ethiopia

Flat White Different

• Mix 
  • Redd, Black Oak Espresso Roasters and a number of producers
  • Uppers, Sur Espresso in Southern California and a number of producers in Guatemala and Ethiopia
• Single origin conventional – Utopian Espresso and Sumatra Asman Gayo Mill, Indonesia
• Single origin experimental – Utopian Espresso and Wilton Benitez of Granja Paraiso 92

MTPak Packaging Award winner: Airship Espresso in Bentonville, Arkansas, US

Taking part roasters can even obtain digital and bodily Gold, Silver, and Bronze World Espresso Awards seals. These are distinctive marks of excellence that they will show on their packaging, advertising supplies, web sites, social media channels, and menus.

The GCA group hosted the From Seal to Sale: Talk Your Award Like a Professional webinar on 7 October, showcasing how roasters can utilise their seals so as to add credibility and visibility, demonstrating to clients and wholesale purchasers that they’re main world manufacturers.

All profitable roasters can even be included in an internationally distributed digital catalogue, providing world model publicity.

Yow will discover all of the US & Canada class and subcategory winners right here.

A snapshot of the US & Canada espresso market

Along with crowning the perfect roasters within the US and Canada, the GCA offers a snapshot of broader shopper and business developments within the US and Canadian espresso market.

The profitable coffees encompassed a variety of processing strategies, together with conventional washed, pure, and honey tons, in addition to extra experimental strategies similar to pure carbonic maceration and anaerobic pure fermentation. 

This resulted in a variety of flavour profiles – starting from darkish chocolate to stone fruit, jasmine, watermelon, butter popcorn, cooked apples, malt and lychee. The outcomes mirrored the sheer range of the US and Canadian markets, the place each conventional and progressive tasting notes are celebrated.

The Filter class was by far the preferred, reflecting the area’s historic choice for drip, batch brew, and pour over espresso. The Espresso class was the second hottest, as shopper preferences shift in the direction of espresso-based drinks. The newest 2025 Nationwide Espresso Knowledge Tendencies Specialty Espresso Breakout Report discovered that 43% of American adults had loved an espresso-based beverage up to now week – a big improve on earlier years.

The competitors, hosted in Houston, Texas at inexperienced espresso importer Copan Commerce, featured a variety of roast profiles, together with mild roast, well-developed darkish roasts fitted to goal (i.e., with milk and sugar), and omni-roasts – demonstrating the flexibility of roasters within the area.

There have been additionally noticeable developments with the origins of submitted coffees. Colombia, Brazil, Honduras, Guatemala, El Salvador, Panama, and Ethiopia had been among the many hottest entries. This alerts the dynamic relationship between US and Canadian patrons and worldwide producers, in addition to the range of origins in each markets.

Different producing nations included Papua New Guinea, Uganda, Tanzania, Puerto Rico, Thailand, India, and the Dominican Republic – demonstrating espresso excellence in lesser-known specialty coffee-producing nations.

Strengthening connections & bettering data: Why GCA issues

A key a part of the GCA is offering all entrants with actionable suggestions that permits them to reinforce their roasting abilities and refine their menu choices.

“The judges have been concerned with different competitions, so having these specialists style your espresso and offer you suggestions is invaluable,” says Ryan Hoban from Neighborly Espresso Roasters in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, and a sensory decide on the US & Canada competitors. 

“The GCA is a superb alternative to take that suggestions and use it in a optimistic, constructive method.”

For instance, for an entry within the Flat White Different Single Origin Conventional subcategory (which was a mix of Typica and Maragogipe from Hawaii), the judges advisable roasting the espresso at the next temperature for a shorter time to create a extra balanced flavour profile and improve the mouthfeel.

In the meantime, for a brilliant pure processed Ethiopian espresso within the Single Origin Experimental filter subcategory, the judges recommended pairing the espresso with peanut butter and jelly or goat’s cheese with apricot jam.

This high-level, particular suggestions not solely permits roasters to straight enhance their abilities and apply them to their operations, however it additionally ensures they will develop curated, complementary meals and beverage choices that elevate their menus.

Past recognition for roasters, the awards additionally spotlight the producers behind every profitable espresso.

“I’ve been part of many espresso competitions, and the GCA is totally completely different from those I’ve judged or competed in,” says Wealthy Troche, the previous co-founder of All people’s Espresso in Chicago, US, and a sensory decide on the GCA US & Canada. “It not solely highlights espresso high quality and the alternative ways of getting ready espresso, but in addition the manufacturing aspect.

“With the ability to showcase not solely roasted espresso high quality, but in addition the story behind it and the connection to the producer who grew and processed it makes the GCA stand out.”

All Gold-winning US & Canada, Origin, and Europe roasters and producers from every class can be invited to the worldwide finals, which can be hosted at PRF El Salvador on 26 & 27 March 2026. All sub-category winners can be invited to the GCA awards ceremony, which is able to happen on the night of the primary day of PRF.

This offers roasters a singular alternative to fulfill the producer behind their espresso, thereby strengthening long-term business relationships and guaranteeing that producers share within the recognition for espresso excellence.

Producing worth in espresso

As a part of GCA and PRF’s wider long-term imaginative and prescient, coffees submitted to the competitors can be repurposed and upcycled, retaining worth within the provide chain and furthering data change.

The GCA group created a particular, limited-edition mix utilizing submissions, which additionally options uniquely designed packaging. The mix was donated to Tomball Emergency Help Ministries, a volunteer-run nonprofit in Houston that serves native households in disaster, guaranteeing that no espresso was wasted on the occasion.

Via the PRF Seed Programme, which funds tasks created by espresso entrepreneurs, GCA coffees can even be donated to the San José barista faculty in Circasia, Colombia. 

“Earlier winner Fabian, who obtained funding at PRF Guatemala over a 12 months in the past, will obtain the coffees from Vietnam, India, and different origins,” Henry explains. “Fabian began a barista academy for highschool college students to allow them to graduate with their very own barista certificates. He’ll share the GCA coffees along with his college students, permitting them to strive new roast profiles, processing strategies, origins, and flavour notes.

“Jayson Galvis, our Lead Choose, can even supply the scholars a free roasting grasp class and a sensory evaluation class,” Henry provides, underscoring GCA’s goal to facilitate significant connections within the espresso business.

The GCA world finals

All Gold winners of the US & Canada, Origin, and Europe occasions will advance to the worldwide finals, which can be held at PRF El Salvador on 26 & 27 March 2026, the place they are going to compete for worldwide recognition. There can even be an awards ceremony for the sub-category and class winners

The GCA group reverse-engineered the profitable coffees to ascertain the producers answerable for rising them. Which means when a roaster submits a bag of espresso, they robotically enter the producer who grew the espresso into the competitors.

The group will ship complimentary invites to the profitable producers to attend the worldwide finals and awards ceremony.

Profitable producers additionally obtain a GCA seal and certificates of excellence, acknowledging their essential position within the business.

The European competitors will happen on 28 & 29 October 2025 in Bordeaux, France, hosted at Belco. The entry equipment is accessible right here.

Taking part in shadow judging on the GCA affords espresso professionals the chance to study firsthand about cupping and low tasting protocols and have interaction with among the most skilled cuppers within the business. To be thought of for this judging place, fill out this way, or this way for a sensory decide place.

The World Espresso Awards is redefining espresso competitions, offering roasters with a priceless alternative to raise their model and obtain worldwide recognition.

Contact data@globalcoffeeawards.com and the GCA mission supervisor, Emi Rueda, by way of WhatsApp right here for extra info.

Apply to compete within the European GCA competitors right here.

Picture credit: Marett Media

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