Estimated studying time: 9 minutes
Key takeaways
- The International Espresso Awards (GCA) recognise the world’s finest roasters and the producers who develop their coffees.
- The Africa version was held on 16 June 2026.
- Galani Espresso from Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, was topped the general winner of the Africa version.
- The highest-scoring espresso was a washed Limu heirloom selection from Galani Espresso within the Espresso Single Origin class. The espresso was produced by Moplaco Buying and selling Co. in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.
- All Gold, Silver, and Bronze class winners are invited to compete within the 2026 GCA World Championship.
The Africa version of the International Espresso Awards (GCA) occurred on 16 June 2026. Roasters from throughout the continent submitted their most distinctive coffees throughout a number of classes and subcategories.
Each pattern underwent a double-blind evaluation by a head choose and at the very least three further judges. Every choose holds a Q-grader certification and has expertise at high-level competitions, together with the World Barista Championship and Cup of Excellence. Earlier than the competitors started, an skilled panel interviewed and chosen all taking part judges.
Judges scored every entry towards an goal set of standards and offered particular, sensible suggestions to each entrant, permitting them to refine their roast profiles and strengthen future submissions.
Learn on to seek out out who took the highest spots in Africa and to study future GCA competitions in 2026.
Study extra in regards to the GCA right here.
Awarding excellence in Africa’s rising specialty espresso markets
GCA is structured round regional competitions. Roasters of all sizes, from small-batch independents to large-scale nationwide manufacturers, are invited to submit their most distinctive coffees throughout outlined classes.
“The GCA set a excessive customary for roasting internationally, together with in rising markets like Africa, the place roasters are extremely artistic and driving consumption of high quality homegrown espresso,” says Mark Zhou, founding father of MTPak Espresso, a number one international provider of custom-printed espresso packaging and the International Espresso Awards Gold Sponsor.
“Our focus is on espresso packaging that stands out, so we selected one roaster from every competitors whose designs confirmed probably the most unique and thought of strategy.”
After profitable editions within the US & Canada, Europe, and Origin Roasted nations (any coffee-producing nation) in 2025, the GCA expanded into Africa this yr.
“International locations like Kenya, Ethiopia, and Nigeria are seeing regular development within the consumption of high quality espresso,” says Emi Rueda, Gross sales and Relationship Supervisor on the International Espresso Awards. “Specialty espresso roasters in Africa are extremely passionate, and their enthusiasm is driving the market. We need to recognise and reward their achievements.”
Initially scheduled for Dubai, the competitors was hosted at Balzac Brothers.
“The GCA offers roasters a uncommon alternative for trustworthy market validation,” says Niklas Ivarsson, President of GCA Water Sponsor Bluewater Group. “The competitors is judged by blind cupping, and all samples are repackaged into impartial baggage so they give the impression of being an identical.
“This implies the espresso is evaluated on the cup itself, not the model, the packaging, the status, or the story round it.”
How are coffees judged on the GCA?
All judging follows a strict double-blind protocol. No figuring out info is shared with anybody concerned, together with the Sensory Judges and the barista workforce making ready the samples.
The panel features a Head Decide, an authorized Lead Sensory Decide, licensed Q-grader Sensory Judges, a Head Barista, and a supporting barista workforce. Each pattern is assessed by three judges and a Head Decide.
Earlier than judging begins, each choose completes a one-day calibration session to align on scoring classes and standards.
Each submission receives written suggestions primarily based on outlined evaluation protocols. Entries are scored solely on sensory high quality, giving roasters particular, sensible steering on their roasting and the place they will enhance.
The Africa classes had been Filter, Espresso, Flat White Dairy, and Flat White Plant-Based mostly Milk. Every class included a number of subcategories, akin to Single Origin and Experimental.
Gear Associate Hiroia offered Hikaru automated pour over techniques and Jimmy Scales. Gear Associate GH Grinding + Brewing Options offered particularly modified Bentwood Vertical 75 grinders. Water purification and remineralisation techniques had been offered by Water Sponsor Bluewater Group.
Every class had its personal separate goal scoring system. All judges used a judging kind to assign a numerical rating throughout a number of standards, together with aroma, flavour, aftertaste, acidity, physique, stability, sweetness, and mouthfeel. Yow will discover detailed details about the judging standards right here.
The winners of the 2026 International Espresso Awards Africa
The winners of the 2026 GCA Africa version are:
General winner: Galani Espresso
Class winners:
- Filter – Galani Espresso
- Espresso – Galani Espresso
- Flat White Dairy – Galani Espresso
- Flat White Plant-Based mostly Milk – Spring Valley Espresso from Nairobi, Kenya
Listed below are the gold winners of every sub-category (roaster and producer, exporter, or co-operative):
Filter
- Pure – Sundried Guji Heirloom from Galani Espresso and Moplaco Buying and selling Co.
- Single origin – Sundried Yirgachefe Gerse Heirloom from Galani Espresso and Moplaco Buying and selling Co.
- Single origin experimental – Sundried Sidamo Anaerobic Fermentation Heirloom from Galani Espresso and Moplaco Buying and selling Co.
- Washed – Totally washed Limu Heirloom from Galani Espresso and Moplaco Buying and selling Co.
Espresso
- Mix – Photo voltaic Veil Heirloom from Galani Espresso and Moplaco Buying and selling Co.
- Single origin – Totally washed Limu Heirloom from Galani Espresso and Moplaco Buying and selling Co.
- Single origin experimental – Sundried Sheka Heirloom from Galani Espresso and Moplaco Buying and selling Co.
“We’re honoured to have submitted the highest-scoring espresso on the GCA Africa version,” says Heleanna Georgalis, President at Galani Espresso. “As an Ethiopian firm, we attempt to not solely have probably the most distinctive espresso in Africa, however internationally. It’s bold, however African roasters can obtain this degree of success.”
Flat White Dairy
- Mix – Bugolobi Mix from Brothers Espresso Roastery from Western Cape, South Africa
- Experimental – Rui Ruiru SL28, SL 34, Batian, K7, Ruiru 11 from Spring Valley Espresso and Rui Ruiru Espresso Manufacturing unit in Nyeri, Kenya
- Single origin – Electrical Solar Washed Guji from Galani Espresso and Moplaco Buying and selling Co.
Flat White Plant-Based mostly Milk
- Experimental – Rui Ruiru SL28, SL 34, Batian, K7, Ruiru 11 from Spring Valley Espresso and Rui Ruiru Espresso Manufacturing unit
- Single origin – Abakunda Kawa (ABK) Bourbon from Query Espresso from Kigali, Rwanda and ABK Cooperative in northern Rwanda
MTPak Packaging Award winner: Kaldi Espresso in Lagos, Nigeria
All taking part roasters obtained detailed suggestions varieties for every pattern submitted. For example, for an entry within the Filter Single Origin Experimental subcategory (an Ethiopian espresso), the judges really helpful a barely gentler strategy, with a decrease finish temperature and lighter total improvement, to assist reveal extra of the espresso’s tropical fruit character whereas enhancing sweetness.
Roasters additionally obtained digital Certificates of Achievement and International Espresso Awards seals in Gold, Silver, and Bronze. These are distinctive marks of excellence that they will show on their packaging, advertising and marketing supplies, web sites, social media channels, and menus.
Yow will discover all of the GCA Africa class and subcategory winners right here.
Upcoming International Espresso Awards editions
The complete 2026 GCA schedule consists of:
- US & Canada: Judging will happen at Copan Commerce in Houston, Texas, US. The entry equipment is right here, and all samples have to be obtained by 5 August 2026.
- Latin America & Caribbean: Judging will happen at Copan Commerce. The entry equipment is right here (out there in English and Spanish), and all samples have to be obtained by 3 August 2026.
- Europe: Judging will happen at Belco in Bordeaux, France. The entry equipment is right here, and all samples have to be obtained by 21 October 2026.
The GCA Asia version was held on 17 June 2026, and the winners shall be introduced on 14 July.
For roasters primarily based in coffee-producing nations, there shall be a separate Origin Roasted class. Which means that if roasters are positioned in a producing nation, akin to Nicaragua, Panama and Ecuador, and submit a espresso grown of their dwelling nation, they obtain computerized, free entry into the Origin Roasted class.
The 2026 GCA would be the greatest version of the competitors, with extra roasters getting into from extra nations than in any earlier yr.
The worldwide competitors circuit serves two functions: figuring out the strongest roasters inside every area, and bringing them collectively within the World Championship to compete for the title of World’s Greatest Roaster.
Contact [email protected] and the GCA Gross sales and Relationship Supervisor, Emi Rueda, through WhatsApp right here for extra info.
International Espresso Awards FAQs
What are the International Espresso Awards?
The International Espresso Awards, or GCA, is a global competitors that recognises the world’s finest roasters and the producers behind their coffees. It runs regional editions, together with MENA, Africa, Europe, the US & Canada, and Latin America, and judges each entry by double-blind tastings led by licensed Q-graders.
How does the GCA choose every espresso entry?
Judges observe a strict double-blind protocol, so no model or packaging particulars attain them. A Head Decide and at the very least three licensed Q-graders rating each pattern on aroma, flavour, acidity, physique, and stability.
What’s subsequent for the International Espresso Awards in 2026?
Three editions stay: US & Canada and Latin America & Caribbean, each judged at Copan Commerce, and Europe, judged at Belco in Bordeaux. Asia’s outcomes, from judging held on 17 June, shall be introduced on 14 July.
Apply to compete within the GCA right here.
Photograph credit: International Espresso Awards, Galani Espresso, Spring Valley Espresso, Brothers Espresso Roastery, Query Espresso
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