Good Meals Awards emblem.
The Good Meals Basis has introduced the 2026 Good Meals Awards finalists, together with 25 coffees from 20 U.S. roasters within the espresso class. The espresso finalists are a part of a broader group of 234 finalists throughout 18 food and drinks classes.
The 20 finalist roasters signify 12 states, led by California (4), adopted by Colorado, North Carolina, New York, Oregon and Texas (two every), plus one every from Massachusetts, Maine, Montana, Nevada, New Jersey and Washington. Three roasting corporations offered a number of finalist coffees this yr, together with Crimson Espresso with three, and Magnolia Espresso and Mikava with two every.
Amongst all classes, espresso stays a definite match for the awards program in that roasted espresso is constructed from a single main agricultural ingredient produced outdoors the U.S., placing further emphasis on origin transparency, sourcing practices and the way roasting selections translate to the cup.
The Good Meals Basis approaches espresso judging via two rounds: a primary spherical that features at-home brewing by Bay Space espresso evaluators and a public part, adopted by a second spherical led by espresso professionals utilizing cupping and analysis protocols.
The muse additionally up to date espresso standards coming into the 2026 cycle, together with a brand new delineation between seasonal and year-round choices designed to encourage “market-ready” entries.
Winners throughout classes are slated to be introduced June 28-30, 2026, in New York Metropolis throughout the Good Meals Mercantile, which coincides with the Specialty Meals Affiliation’s Summer season Fancy Meals Present.
Primarily based on the finalist listing, this yr’s espresso area leans closely towards coffees originating from Ethiopia and Colombia, with different single-origin entries hailing from Costa Rica, Panama, Rwanda and El Salvador.
All however 5 of the 25 finalists are offered as single-origin choices, with the others being blends or different branded merchandise. Among the many espresso varieties recognized, Gesha was most outstanding, whereas different entries included “Pink Bourbon,” Pacamara and SL-28. A number of entries emphasised post-harvest processing strategies, together with phrases like thermal shock, carbonic maceration and anaerobic honey.
2026 Good Meals Awards Espresso Finalists
Listed below are all of the 2026 espresso finalists as printed by the Good Meals Basis:
Beanstock Espresso Roasters, Massachusetts
Colombia Pure Pink Bourbon Lisandro Cardenas
Crimson Espresso, Ohio
Ethiopia Reshad Ababulgu White Honey
Loud Mouth Mix
Wayfarer Mix
Equator Coffees, California
Colombia Las Flores Thermal Shock Pink Bourbon
Linea Caffe, California
Natural Ethiopia Gotiti Yirgacheffe Reserve
Mikava, Oregon
Gesha Espresso Mix
Gesha Marsella
Peerless Espresso, California
ROC Colombia
Tern Espresso, Maine
Familia Diaz Honey Pacamara – El Salvador
Boxcar Espresso Roasters, Colorado
Ethiopia Chelbesa Danche Yellow Honey
Driftaway Espresso, New York
Ethiopia Layo Teraga
Evermore Espresso, New Jersey
Rwanda Butare Bagaragaza Deo
Little Waves Espresso Roasters, North Carolina
Rio Dulce Gesha, Cafe 1959, Colombia
Noble Coyote Espresso Roasters, Texas
Ethiopia Guji Kayon Mountain Pure Course of Natural
Regular State Roasting, California
Campo Hermosa Pink Bourbon Watermelon (Colombia)
Treeline Espresso Roasters, Montana
Tropical Sundown: Thermal Shock, Finca Las Flores (Colombia)
Corvus Espresso Roasters, Colorado
Finca Deborah Nirvana Gesha (Panama)
Drink Espresso Do Stuff, Nevada
Ethiopia Yirgacheffe Banko Chelchele Tremendous Pure
Keia & Martyn’s Espresso, Oregon
Ethiopia Guji Shakiso Gigesa Pure
Magnolia Espresso, North Carolina
Ethiopia Gera Property Anaerobic Pure
Las Lajas Double Diamond Anaerobic Pure
Las Lajas SL 28 Black Diamond
Companions Espresso, New York
Suke Quto (Guji, Ethiopia)
Talavera Espresso, Texas
Amor Eterno Mix
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