• The International Espresso Awards honour the world’s greatest roasteries and the producers who provide their coffees.
• The Origin version, recognising roasting excellence in coffee-producing nations, was held on 1 October 2025 in Houston, Texas.
• The general winner is Colombia’s Casa Landino, named the perfect roaster in an origin nation.
• US & Canada, Origin, and Europe Gold winners will compete on the international finals. These shall be held at Producer & Roaster Discussion board El Salvador on 26 & 27 March 2026, the place the world champion shall be introduced.

The Origin version of the International Espresso Awards, a contest that rewards roasting excellence on a world scale, happened on 1 October 2025 in Houston, Texas. 

As a part of the GCA, professional judges blind-tasted baggage of roasted espresso submitted throughout a number of classes, together with filter, espresso, and milk-based drinks. Utilizing an goal and clear scoring system, the judges supplied actionable suggestions to all entrants, guaranteeing they will get the perfect outcomes from their coffees and generate new income streams.

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

Be taught extra in regards to the GCA right here.

The GCA recognises roasting excellence at origin

The International Espresso Awards invited roasters in producing nations all over the world to submit baggage of their most distinctive coffees throughout varied outlined classes. Roasters of any dimension might participate, leading to a novel competitors that recognised the talents and experience of a various vary of espresso companies.

“The competitors could be very related as a result of, collectively, we now assume extra about how finish shoppers expertise espresso,” says Jayson Galvis, a two-time CoE worldwide lead choose, in addition to the Lead Decide for the US & Canada and Origin GCA competitions. “As an business, we hardly ever recognise roasters in producing nations, and that’s the most useful facet of the GCA.”

Along with the US & Canada and European editions, the Origin class helps stage the taking part in area in worldwide espresso competitions. By means of its regional format, the GCA is designed to search out not solely the perfect roasters within the US & Canada, Europe, and coffee-producing nations, but in addition to put the winners to compete in opposition to one another – culminating in a world champion.

There are a selection of causes for this. A lot of the worth within the espresso business is generated by roasting, after which espresso is marketed and offered. Though there are lots of roasters in origin nations, most are primarily based in majority-consuming nations, the place a lot of the advertising and marketing takes place.

Which means a lot of the worth within the provide chain is historically added as soon as espresso has left a producing nation. Roasting espresso at origin is among the some ways to realize extra worth in these nations, thereby serving to business professionals in these areas obtain greater costs.

“A key a part of the GCA is guaranteeing roasters at origin obtain extra of the worldwide highlight, highlighting and rewarding their dedication to excellence, consistency, and high quality,” says Henry Wilson, the founding father of GCA and PRF. 

“We’re additionally acknowledging the expansion of the specialty espresso roasters at origin, together with those that have wholesale accounts within the US, which demonstrates a big shift in commerce dynamics and an enormous enhance in high quality.”

All editions of the competitors additionally reward the producers who grew the successful coffees. That is particularly vital for the Origin occasion, because it helps the experience and dedication of all espresso professionals in producing nations.

The European version shall be held on 29 & 30 October 2025 in Bordeaux, France. You possibly can submit coffees right here and make contact with Emi Rueda, the GCA Affiliate Mission Supervisor, by way of WhatsApp right here for extra data.

The GCA judging course of

The panel consisted of 1 lead choose, 4 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. 

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 incorporates a number of subcategories, with as much as three factors out there for every espresso.

The coffees in every class have been ready as a shopper would expertise them in a café, utilizing particular brew ratios and brewing protocols:

• 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, in addition to Espresso Sponsor Moplaco Buying and selling
• Flat White with Dairy and Flat White with Different Milk: ready utilizing the automated MilkPal, supplied by Gear Provider Marco Beverage Programs

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, steerage on how one can enhance roast profile improvement, and meals pairing strategies from the judges

As a part of a two-stage blind-tasting course of, the judges first accomplished a two-minute sensory analysis. 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 three-minute dialogue with the judges to debate their suggestions intimately, guaranteeing that every one judges have been aligned.

“It’s a sensible, easy analysis system explicitly designed for evaluating roasted espresso that provides constructive suggestions,” Jayson says. “All factors are constructive and concentrate on enhancements, supporting roasters and the general business.”

Who gained on the GCA Origin competitors?

The winners of the GCA Origin Roasted competitors are:

General winner: Casa Landino in Bogotá, Colombia

Class winners:

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 – Maestro Jose Alejandro Gutierrez (Gesha and Wush Wush), Casa Landino & Jose Alejandro Gutierrez in Tolima, Colombia
• Single origin conventional – Maestro Juan Maria Caez (Caturra), Casa Landino & Juan Maria Caez in Nariño, Colombia
• Single origin experimental – 4 Elementos, Linea Gran Reserva-Esencia Frutal (mix of Java, Gesha, and Tabi varieties), Café La Vereda in Calarca, Colombia & Deisy Ardila in Colombia
• Washed
  • Gesha, Amor Perfecto in Bogotá, Colombia & Astrid Medina in Colombia
  • Geishaverse Diamante, Café Cultor in Bogotá, Colombia (producer undisclosed)
• Pure
  • Esperanza (hybrid cross of Ethiopian and Sarchimor varieties), Cafetalera Aquiares in Turrialba, Costa Rica (each roaster and producer)
  • Mundo Maya, Zozoaga in León, Mexico & Carlos Cadena in Mexico
• Honey – Aponte Honey (Caturra and Colombia varieties), Pergamino in Medellín, Colombia & Resguardo Indígena de Aponte in Colombia
• Experimental – Washed anaerobic fermentation Caturra, Café Cultor (producer undisclosed)
• Robusta – Tremendous Robusta Cư M’Gar, Each Half in Hồ Chí Minh, Vietnam & Each Half X Vietnam Espresso Cooperative
• Decaf – Lomaverde Descafeinado, Pergamino & Familia Echavarría in Colombia

Espresso

• Mix – Washed Caturra Dawn, Café Cultor (producer undisclosed)
• Single origin conventional – washed Guji (heirloom selection), Galani Espresso & Guji Dry Station Kercha Hambela in Ethiopia
• Single origin experimental – Sheka honey (heirloom selection), Galani Espresso & Sheka Kawo Kamina Farm in Ethiopia
• Decaf – Mix 0 (mixture of Caturra, Colombia, and Castillo varieties), Casa Landino & Comunidad La Serrania in Colombia

Flat White Dairy

• Mix – Pasionaria (Pink Bourbon pure anaerobic fermentation), Café Cultor (producer undisclosed)
• Single origin conventional
  • Café Volcan (mix of Caturra, Purple Patch, Typica, Mundo Novo, Marsellesa, and Anacafe 14 varieties), Finca Peniel in Guatemala Metropolis, Guatemala (each roaster and producer)
  • Balmaadi pure arabica, Marc’s Coffees in Tamil Nadu, India & Unna Thiagarajan from Balmaadi Plantation, India
• Single origin experimental – Caturra Viñedo, DeLa Finca Specialty Espresso & Heberto Rivas in Nicaragua

Flat White Different

• Mix – Café de las Nubes (producer undisclosed)
• Single origin conventional – Meridiano (Typica Mejorado selection), Cabra Negra in Quito, Ecuador & M. Hervas in Ecuador

Collaborating roasters may even obtain digital and bodily Certificates of Achievement and Gold, Silver, and Bronze International Espresso Awards seals. These are distinctive marks of excellence that they will show on their packaging, advertising and marketing supplies, web sites, social media channels, and menus.

All successful roasters may even be included in an internationally distributed digital catalogue, providing international model publicity.

Yow will discover all of the Origin class and subcategory winners right here.

Highlighting the specialty espresso market in producing nations

The GCA supplied perception right into a broad vary of specialty espresso markets in producing nations, and provided distinctive comparisons to the outcomes of the US & Canada competitors, which was held on 29 & 30 September.

Roasters throughout Latin America (together with Colombia, Honduras, Mexico, Nicaragua, Guatemala, Ecuador, and El Salvador) took half, in addition to manufacturers from Kenya, Ethiopia, Vietnam, India, and the Philippines.

Nearly all of successful coffees encompassed extra conventional washed, pure, and honey heaps, however there have been additionally extra experimental methods equivalent to pure and washed anaerobic fermentation. 

Furthermore, the occasion, hosted in Houston, Texas, at inexperienced espresso importer Copan Commerce, featured extra distinctive and unique varieties than the US & Canada version, equivalent to Papayo and Typica Mejorado. These are sometimes seen at different high-end competitions just like the World Barista Championships.

There was additionally a various vary of flavour notes – from toasted oats to white pepper, burnt grapefruit, sugarcane, sage, clove, and panela. The outcomes mirrored native and regional cuisines and flavour preferences usually underrepresented within the international espresso business.

“We additionally had robusta submissions within the Filter class on the Origin occasion, reflecting the ever-improving high quality of an traditionally undervalued espresso species,” Henry says. 

Within the Nineteen Fifties, robusta accounted for less than 13% of the worldwide espresso market. Quick ahead to 2021, and it comprised 40%, indicating large market development and quickly rising curiosity from each roasters and shoppers. 

Supporting market development in coffee-producing nations

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. All taking part roasters obtain a Competitor Suggestions Report, which outlines the analysis course of, suggestions philosophy, coordinator tasting notes and key descriptors, and instructed meals pairings.

In rapidly-growing specialty espresso markets like Latin America, India, Southeast Asia, and East Africa, that is particularly vital. By 2030, India’s espresso market, for example, is forecast to double in worth, with specialty espresso accounting for practically 18% of this development.

“We perceive that each roaster invests effort and time in direction of their coffees,” Jayson explains. “Market costs have remained excessive during the last couple of years, so roasters are taking additional care to keep up and enhance high quality.”

“We additionally need to advise them on how the espresso can be utilized, what it may be paired with, and the way they will repeatedly enhance it,” Jayson provides. “By means of the subcategories, we are able to counsel meals pairings, which helps deliver shoppers nearer to roasted espresso and permits roasters to generate extra worth sooner or later.”

The GCA international finals

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

The GCA crew reverse-engineered the successful coffees to ascertain the producers accountable for rising them. Which means when a roaster submits a bag of espresso, they routinely enter the producer who grew the espresso into the competitors.

The crew will ship complimentary invites to the successful producers to attend the worldwide finals and awards ceremony. This offers roasters a novel alternative to satisfy the producer behind their espresso, thereby strengthening long-term business relationships and guaranteeing that producers share within the recognition for espresso excellence.

Successful producers additionally obtain a GCA seal and Certificates of Excellence, acknowledging their essential position within the business.

The European competitors will happen on 29 & 30 October 2025 in Bordeaux, France, hosted at Belco. The entry equipment is obtainable right here.

Collaborating in shadow judging on the GCA affords espresso professionals the chance to study firsthand about cupping and occasional tasting protocols and interact with among the most skilled cuppers within the business. To be thought-about for this judging place, fill out this way, or this way for a sensory choose place.

The International Espresso Awards is pushing the boundaries of excellence and status within the espresso business, giving roasters all over the world a worthwhile alternative to raise their branding and obtain worldwide recognition.

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

Apply to compete within the European GCA competitors right here.

Photograph credit: Marett Media

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