In January, the Semi-Finalists for the 2026 James Beard Awards have been introduced, notably that includes Onyx Espresso Lab. The Rogers, Arkansas espresso roaster’s inclusion on the brief checklist was a monumental second for specialty espresso; they have been the primary espresso firm to make it that far within the prestigious American award. And now, Onyx is one step nearer to successful all of it and has been named one of many Finalists for Excellent Bar.
Per the James Beard web site, the Excellent Bar award seeks to honor “a wine bar, beer bar, cocktail bar, espresso bar, or every other enterprise whose main providing is beverage and that demonstrates constant excellence in curating a range or within the preparation of drinks, together with excellent environment, hospitality, and operations.” And whereas espresso outlets are expressly included within the checklist, one has but to essentially make waves. Till now.
From an authentic discipline of 20 Semi-Finalists, Onyx has made it right down to the final 5, breaking one other barrier for specialty espresso within the course of. Becoming a member of them within the Finals are Bow & Arrow Brewing Co., The Lovers Bar at Friday Saturday Sunday, Scotch Lodge, and Smuggler’s Cove.
“To be acknowledged as a James Beard finalist for Excellent Bar is deeply significant for our crew and for everybody who believes in espresso as a world-class hospitality expertise,” states former US Barista Champion and World Barista Championship Runner-Up and Onyx Espresso Lab co-founder Andrea Allen. “This honor displays years of dedication from individuals who care deeply about excellence—in service, in craft, and in creating one thing genuinely memorable for the friends who stroll by way of our doorways. We have now at all times believed espresso might be as dynamic, considerate, and transferring as any beverage program on the planet, and it’s extremely rewarding to see that imaginative and prescient honored on this stage.”
Their remaining destiny will probably be introduced later this June in Chicago and the 2026 James Beard Awards ceremony.
However Onyx isn’t fairly espresso’s solely hope of lastly snagging a Beard Award. Jack Benchakul can be a Finalist within the Excellent Skilled in Hospitality class. Previously a pastry chef and molecular biochemist, Benchakul is the driving power and sole barista behind Los Angeles’s Endorffeine Espresso, a lab-like temple to espresso situated inside a buying courtroom in LA’s historic Chinatown.
This places the chances of espresso taking residence not less than one James Beard this 12 months, all issues equal, at roughly one in three. 36% technically, however who’s counting. To not get too far forward of ourselves, even and not using a win 2026 is shaping as much as the 12 months meals and beverage awards lastly begin taking specialty espresso significantly. Which is lengthy overdue however nonetheless welcome.
Zac Cadwalader is the managing editor at Sprudge Media Community and a workers author based mostly in Dallas. Learn extra Zac Cadwalader on Sprudge.
