- The International Espresso Awards recognise the world’s finest roasteries and the producers who provide their coffees.
- The European version was held on 29 & 30 October 2025 in Bordeaux, France.
- The general winner is the UK’s Origin Espresso, named the perfect roaster in Europe.
- All Gold, Silver, and Bronze class winners from the US & Canada, Europe, and Origin Roasted competitions are invited to compete within the world finals. These might be held at Producer & Roaster Discussion board El Salvador on 26 & 27 March 2026, the place the world champion might be introduced.
The European version of the International Espresso Awards, a contest that honours worldwide roasting excellence, passed off on 29 & 30 October 2025 in Bordeaux, France.
Roasters from 25 nations submitted their coffees throughout a number of classes, together with filter, espresso, and milk-based drinks, which had been blind-tasted by a panel {of professional} judges.
Utilizing an goal scoring system, the judges offered actionable suggestions to all entrants, permitting them to showcase the total potential of their coffees and generate new income streams.
Learn on to seek out out who the winners are and be taught extra concerning the upcoming world finals.
Be taught extra concerning the GCA right here.
Honouring European roasting excellence and variety
From small independents to regional and nationwide manufacturers, the International Espresso Awards invited European roasters of all sizes to submit baggage of their most distinctive coffees throughout numerous classes.
Designed to reward the general firm quite than a person roaster, permitting corporations to strengthen their model id, the GCA is a prestigious competitors that additionally recognises the producer who grew the espresso. This bridges a niche within the business, acknowledging and elevating consciousness of excellence throughout the provision chain.
“It was an actual pleasure to guide the GCA’s European judging panel,” says Martin Suard, the top roaster at L’arbre à Café in Paris, France, a Q grader, and a nationwide coordinator of the SCA French chapter.
“Spending a number of days with colleagues from throughout Europe was a wealthy studying expertise,” he provides. “It additionally allowed us to have a snapshot of the sensory expertise requirements of every nation.”
As one of the numerous coffee-consuming markets on the planet, Europe performs a pivotal position in world espresso commerce.
In accordance with the European Espresso Federation, the EU27 bloc consumed an estimated 2.53 million tonnes of espresso in 2023, making it the world’s third-largest espresso market. Germany, Italy, and France are the main consuming nations within the area, in accordance with the ECF’s 2023/24 European Espresso Report.
“The competitors permits us to achieve a greater understanding of the consumption habits of our European neighbours and get an summary of the area’s espresso developments,” Martin provides.
The continent is house to each heritage manufacturers and specialty espresso roasters, culminating in a diversified espresso market not like most others. Scandinavia, for instance, is thought for its desire for mild roasts and its pioneering position in creating trendy filter espresso tradition.
In some Western European nations, equivalent to France and Austria, custom nonetheless holds appreciable sway, whereas specialty espresso tradition thrives alongside it. For instance, Viennese espresso homes have obtained UNESCO recognition as an intangible a part of the nation’s cultural heritage. On the identical time, the nation can be house to among the world’s most revered specialty espresso retailers and roasters.
“Europe is a extremely numerous espresso market, each when it comes to roasting and sourcing,” says Andrea Melo-Leon, the COO of GCA. “Many various nations contribute their very own distinctive flavours, traditions, and market dynamics.
“Whereas some nations have extra established specialty espresso tradition, others are rising as specialty espresso customers,” she provides. “In these nations, the place the markets are much less saturated, various roasters are surfacing as market leaders, driving innovation and explosive progress.”
Japanese Europe, as an example, is markedly completely different to different elements of the continent. Whereas some main cities have quickly rising specialty espresso scenes, many nations on this area are nonetheless considered rising markets with decrease per capita consumption than different areas.
The GCA judging course of
The competitors focuses on roasted espresso quite than inexperienced beans, offering a complete high quality evaluation that encompasses all sorts of espresso interesting to numerous shopper preferences.
“The GCA is about recognising all coffees, and acknowledging the constructive, distinctive elements of every one,” says Andrea. “Blind cupping roasted espresso is an unprecedented competitors format within the business; we’re serving to drive consumption and permitting roasters to raised perceive promote extra espresso.
“Participating is a small funding to obtain constructive, actionable suggestions, and roasters additionally achieve world publicity,” she provides. “Furthermore, all the judging suggestions is constructive, not punitive, so roasters acquire as a lot worth from competing as potential.”
The classes are designed to recognise the distinctive qualities of various coffee-based drinks, quite than relying solely on cupping. Moreover, the subcategories recognise all kinds of processing strategies, making certain judges can consider them independently.
“Belco operates on the coronary heart of the espresso sector, selling a world and sustainable method to high quality throughout the provision chain,” says Denis Mialocq, the top of high quality and coaching and Q grader at inexperienced espresso importer Belco in Bordeaux, France.
“Guided by this imaginative and prescient and by its central place between origin and consumption, Belco is proud to have hosted the International Espresso Awards Europe,” he provides. “The competitors displays our values: it celebrates the variety of coffees, origins, and expertise (from producers to roasters), selling excellence at each step of the chain.”
The panel consisted of 1 lead sensory decide, one lead shadow decide, 9 sensory judges, three coordinators, and 6 shadow 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 embody Filter, Espresso, Flat White with Dairy, and Flat White with Various Milk. Every class incorporates a number of subcategories, with as much as three factors out there for every espresso.
The coffees in every class had been ready as a shopper would expertise them in a café, utilizing particular brew ratios and brewing protocols:
- Filter: ready utilizing Fellow Ode grinders and Fellow Aiden brewers offered by Gear Accomplice Fellow
- Espresso: ready utilizing two Linea Mini espresso machines and two Pico grinders offered by Gear Accomplice La Marzocco
- Flat White with Dairy and Flat White with Various Milk: ready utilizing the automated MilkPal, offered by Gear Accomplice Marco Beverage Methods
The scoring system for every class included:
- Judging kind – offered a numerical rating throughout a number of standards and a sensory snapshot (tasting notes and key descriptors)
- A coordinator kind – offered a sensory snapshot, steerage on enhance roast profile growth, and meals pairing recommendations 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, making certain that every one judges had been aligned.
“By bringing collectively passionate consultants round a rigorous analysis course of, the GCA aligns with Belco’s mission: to contribute to a stronger, extra coherent, and extra resilient espresso sector, able to progressing collectively towards a sustainable future,” Denis says.
Who received on the GCA Europe competitors?
The winners of the GCA Europe competitors are:
Total winner: Origin Espresso in Cornwall, UK
Class winners:
- Filter – Ombú Bcn Tostadores in Barcelona, Spain
- Espresso – Origin Espresso
- Flat White Dairy – Rocket Bean in Riga, Latvia
- Flat White Various – Rocket Bean
For subcategories, entrants who obtained an identical numerical scores each positioned first to make sure equity and parity.
Gold winners of every sub-category (roaster and producer):
Filter
- Mix – Fester mix, Badger & Dodo in Cork, Eire & numerous producers from Colombia, Burundi, and Ethiopia
- Single origin conventional – Hangout, Huracán Espresso in Vilnius, Lithuania & numerous producers in Kenya
- Single origin experimental – Dimello Colombia Particular Version, Kafea Terra in Peania, Greece & Micava Santuario Farm in Colombia
- Washed – Buzzing Fowl, Spojka Roastery in Prešov, Slovakia & Café de Altura San Ramon in Costa Rica
- Pure – Camino Lot 25, Origin Espresso & Aliss Hartmann in Panama
- Honey – Colombia Pink Ranger, Ombu Bcn Tostadores & Ana María Donneys in Colombia
- Experimental
- Sidra, Café Piha in Bordeaux, France & Jhonatan Zúñiga in Colombia
- Java Las Flores, Terres de Café in Paris, France & Jhoan Vergara in Colombia
- Decaf – Colombia pure, Rocket Bean & Jairo Arcila in Colombia
Espresso
- Mix – Amour à Kyoto, La Brûlerie du Books & Espresso in Bordeaux, France & numerous producers in Colombia and Guatemala
- Single origin conventional – Gerba Dogo, Café Piha & Shonora in Ethiopia
- Single origin experimental – Area51 Colombia SL28, Kafea Terra & La Macarena in Colombia
- Decaf – N°09 Décollage Colombie, Les Révélations in Paris, France & El Fenix in Colombia
Flat White Dairy
- Mix – India and Kenya mix, Audun Espresso in Bydgoszcz, Poland & numerous producers in India and Kenya
- Single origin conventional – Magic Pussy pure Ethiopia Guji Shakisso, Rocket Bean & Gigesa washing station in Ethiopia
- Single origin experimental – Java Las Flores, Terres de Café & Jhoan Vergara
Flat White Various
- Mix – Rocket Gas Home Espresso, Rocket Bean & numerous producers in Colombia and Brazil
- Single origin conventional
MTPak Packaging Award winner: Spojka Roastery
Taking part roasters will even obtain digital Certificates of Achievement, in addition to Gold, Silver, and Bronze International Espresso Awards seals. These are distinctive marks of excellence that they’ll show on their packaging, advertising supplies, web sites, social media channels, and menus.
All profitable roasters will even be included in an internationally distributed digital catalogue, providing world model publicity.
You’ll find all of the GCA European class and subcategory winners right here.
Key developments within the European espresso market
Along with crowning the perfect roasters in Europe, the GCA gives a snapshot of broader shopper and business developments within the European market.
The competitors showcased a spread of processing strategies. These included conventional washed, pure, and honey tons, in addition to extra experimental methods equivalent to anaerobic fermentation, anoxic fermentation, and mosto. Unique varieties, equivalent to Sidra and Papayo, which are sometimes seen at different high-end competitions just like the World Barista Championship, had been additionally submitted.
This resulted in a variety of flavour profiles – from dulce de leche to white pepper, orange blossom, wine, kumquat, brioche, and milk oolong tea. These mirrored the area’s numerous espresso market, the place each conventional and revolutionary tasting notes are celebrated.
The three hottest classes had been Filter Single Origin Conventional, Filter Single Origin Experimental, and Filter Washed. Traditionally, espresso has dominated Western European markets, so the recognition of the Filter class demonstrates shifting consumption patterns throughout the area.
“We had roasters from each mature and rising specialty espresso markets participating, creating a very distinctive competitors the place manufacturers from much less established consuming nations can showcase their expertise and fervour,” Andrea says.
Roasters from 25 completely different nations took half. These included Belgium, Bulgaria, the Czech Republic, Denmark, France, Germany, Greece, Eire, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, the Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Switzerland, and the UK.
There have been additionally noticeable country-specific developments, reflecting the advanced, fragmented nature of the European espresso market.
Single origin experimentally processed coffees had been significantly widespread amongst Greek, French, and Slovakian roasters, for instance, signalling the varied preferences of customers in these nations. In the meantime, Irish, Swiss, Belgian, and Norwegian roasters submitted extra washed coffees, demonstrating shopper desire in the direction of extra conventional, clear flavour profiles.
Supporting roasters to promote extra espresso
A key a part of the GCA is offering all entrants with actionable suggestions that allows them to reinforce their roasting expertise and refine their menu choices.
“The GCA is a superb initiative, permitting so many roasters to acquire constructive, supportive, and informative suggestions,” Martin says. “It gives a world imaginative and prescient of the market, one’s place inside it, and even the potential for understanding develop into different nations.”
For instance, for an entry within the Filter Pure subcategory (which was a Rwandan espresso), the judges beneficial roasting it longer to convey out extra sweetness and lengthen the aftertaste and end, making a extra well-rounded flavour profile.
In the meantime, for a espresso within the Filter Washed class (with notes of orange blossom, wine, panela, and pineapple), the judges steered pairing it with cheeses equivalent to Brie with honey, blue cheese, aged cheddar, and Comté.
This high-level, particular suggestions not solely permits roasters to enhance their expertise and apply them on to their operations, however it additionally ensures they’ll develop curated, complementary meals and beverage choices that elevate their menus.
“The competitors additionally highlights the producer-roaster duo, which is just too usually underestimated,” Martin provides. “Many competitions deal with just one or the opposite, hardly ever on this important mixture of each.”
The GCA world finals
All Gold, Silver, and Bronze class winners of the US & Canada, Origin, and Europe occasions might be invited to compete on the world finals, which might be held at PRF El Salvador on 26 & 27 March 2026, the place they’ll compete for worldwide recognition.
There will even be regional winners’ awards ceremonies, which can happen on the night of the primary day of PRF.
The GCA crew reverse-engineered the profitable coffees to determine the producers liable for rising them. Which means that when a roaster submits a bag of espresso, they mechanically enter the producer who grew the espresso into the competitors.
The crew will ship complimentary invites to the profitable producers to attend PRF El Salvador. This provides roasters a novel alternative to fulfill the producer behind their espresso, thereby strengthening long-term business relationships and making certain that producers share within the recognition for espresso excellence.
Profitable producers additionally obtain a GCA seal and Certificates of Excellence, acknowledging their essential position within the business.
By its regional competitors format, the GCA is designed to seek out not solely the perfect roasters within the US & Canada, Europe, and coffee-producing nations, but additionally to put the winners to compete towards one another, culminating in a world champion.
This distinctive format ranges the competitors enjoying discipline, permitting worldwide roasters to go head-to-head and declare the title of world’s finest within the finals.
Be taught extra about PRF right here.
Photograph credit: Dušan Holovej, Terres de Café
Excellent Every day Grind
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