Key takeaways
- The International Espresso Awards (GCA) honour the world’s greatest roasters and the producers behind their coffees.
- The Latin America version was held on 12 August 2026.
- Café Baluarte de Veracruz from Veracruz, Mexico, is the general winner.
- The highest-scoring espresso was Mix Espresso Macizo within the Espresso Mix subcategory.
- All Gold, Silver, and Bronze class winners are invited to compete within the 2026 GCA World Championship, held at PRF Mexico on 18 & 19 March 2027.
The Latin America version of the International Espresso Awards (GCA) befell on 12 August 2026.
A head decide and no less than three extra judges assessed every pattern in a double-blind course of. All judges are Q graders with expertise at competitions such because the World Barista Championship, Cup of Excellence, and Better of Panama, and an knowledgeable panel interviewed and chosen each previous to the competitors.
The judges used an goal scoring system to offer each entrant actionable suggestions, serving to them refine their roast profiles.
Learn on to search out out who gained and to study extra in regards to the GCA’s upcoming competitions.
Be taught extra in regards to the GCA right here.
Recognising espresso high quality and excellence
The GCA runs its competitions regionally. Roasters of all sizes can enter, from small-batch independents to large-scale nationwide manufacturers, and every submits their most distinctive coffees throughout outlined classes.
“Competitions just like the GCA play a vital position as a result of they offer recognition to those that usually work behind the scenes,” says Jonathan Ramirez Bravo, an authorized Q grader, Authorised SCA Coach, and a Barista Coach at ICAFE in Costa Rica. Jonathan has over 16 years of expertise working in espresso and has judged nationwide and worldwide espresso competitions. He served as a Sensory Choose on the GCA Latin America.
“Roasters and producers are a significant hyperlink within the espresso worth chain: with out their data, precision, and sensitivity, we will’t expertise a espresso’s true potential,” he provides. “Taking part within the GCA provides roasters the chance to showcase their expertise, obtain helpful recognition, and share their coffees with a world viewers of trade professionals.”
Latin America’s rising specialty espresso market
The GCA’s enlargement into Latin America is important. In recent times, focused, policy-driven initiatives and a rising center class have pushed home espresso consumption in a number of Latin American international locations. In accordance with a Specialty Espresso Affiliation report, specialty espresso accounts for between 3% and 5% of Colombia’s whole espresso consumption, and the market is valued at round US $1.52bn.
“The high quality of the coffees that have been roasted in Latin America have been on the similar degree as some of the greatest coffees roasted in different classes in different areas of the world,” says Mario Idrovo, founding father of MI Espresso Options and Cafering in Miami, Florida. Mario has labored within the espresso trade for over a decade and has served as a decide for Taza Dorada, the Ecuador Barista Championship, and different competitions. He was the Head Sensory Choose at GCA Latin America and US & Canada.
“It reveals that there’s a large motion for specialty espresso in producing international locations,” he provides. “The variety of specialty roasters, skilled baristas, and skilled cuppers is rising, and extra manufacturers are investing in high-quality tools. Finally, the GCA helps retain extra worth in coffee-producing international locations.”
Roasters from over ten international locations competed, together with Colombia, Guatemala, Honduras, Ecuador, Dominican Republic, Mexico, El Salvador, Bolivia, Nicaragua, Peru, and extra, demonstrating the rising range of the Latin American espresso market.
Understanding the GCA judging course of
All judging on the International Espresso Awards follows a strict double-blind protocol. Not one of the judges and low professionals concerned within the course of, together with the Sensory Judges and the barista crew making ready the samples, obtain any figuring out data. Because of this, judges assess each espresso on high quality alone.
“Competitions just like the GCA give roasters a chance to benchmark their work on a worldwide stage and encourage us to maintain innovating and bettering,” says Ashley Prentice, the founder and CEO of Gento Espresso Roasters, a 2026 GCA Latin America Gold winner. “Simply as importantly, they bring about consideration to the producers and origins behind every espresso, highlighting the vital position the producer performs in competitors coffees.
“Final 12 months, after we receiving the title of Guatemala’s Nationwide Champion within the Origin Roasted competitors, we had the honour of competing alongside 30 of the world’s greatest roasters on the GCA World Championship,” she provides. “Seeing our coffees be recognised affirmed that roasters at origin can compete on the highest degree.”
Judging was held at inexperienced espresso importer Copan Commerce in Houston, Texas, US. Copan Commerce’s CEO, William Dunaway, was a proud volunteer sponsor of the latest version of Producer & Roaster Discussion board (PRF) in El Salvador, held in 2026.
The judging panel consists of a Head Choose, an authorized Lead Sensory Choose, licensed Q grader Sensory Judges, a Head Barista and a barista crew. At the least three judges, in addition to a Head Choose, assess each pattern.
Earlier than judging begins, every decide completes a one-day calibration session to align on scoring classes and standards. Actual-time check-ins then keep this consistency all through the judging course of.
Suggestions for roasters
Each submitted espresso receives written suggestions in accordance with outlined evaluation protocols. Judges consider entries purely on sensory high quality, giving roasters clear, actionable insights into their roasting types and the right way to enhance them.
“This type of suggestions is invaluable; roasters can use it to fine-tune roast profiles and produce out the very best of their coffees,” 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.
“As a part of our give attention to distinctive espresso packaging, we choose one roaster from each competitors whose design stood out as essentially the most inventive, eye-catching, and forward-thinking,” Mark provides.
Classes at GCA Latin America
The Latin America classes have been Filter, Espresso, Flat White Dairy, and Flat White Plant-Primarily based Milk. Every class included a number of subcategories, akin to Single Origin, Washed, and Gesha.
The crew brewed each espresso the way in which a buyer would encounter it in a café, following set brew parameters and protocols to maintain outcomes constant and judging them pretty and precisely.
“Bolivia has an extended historical past as a espresso producer, however we’re nonetheless creating our presence in worldwide competitions,” says Mai Suzuki, founding father of Mugen Espresso Challenge, a a 2026 GCA Latin America Gold winner. “Discovering out we may take part within the GCA Latin America was extremely thrilling. It’s an enormous step ahead for our nationwide trade to be energetic rivals on the worldwide stage.
“This competitors serves as an vital catalyst for all the Bolivian espresso chain, from producers to baristas,” Mai provides. “For rising roasters, it gives a vital benchmark to study from the worldwide group, perceive the place we stand, and construct a path towards steady studying.”
Gear Companion Hiroia supplied automated pour over techniques. Gear Companion Geva Espresso supplied espresso machines, grinders, automated tampers, and ceramic cups. Water Sponsor Bluewater Group supplied water purification and remineralisation techniques.
Every class used its personal separate, goal scoring system. Each decide crammed in a judging kind, giving a numerical rating throughout a number of standards, together with aroma, flavour, aftertaste, acidity, physique, steadiness, sweetness, and mouthfeel.
You’ll find detailed details about the judging standards right here.
The winners of the 2026 International Espresso Awards Latin America
The winners of the 2026 GCA Latin America version are:
General winner: Café Baluarte de Veracruz from Veracruz, Mexico
Class winners:
- Filter – Macizo Café from Bogotá, Colombia
- Espresso – DeLa Finca Specialty Espresso from Managua, Nicaragua
- Flat White Dairy – Café Baluarte de Veracruz
- Flat White Plant-Primarily based Milk – Café Baluarte de Veracruz
Listed here are the gold winners of every sub-category (roaster and producer, exporter, or co-operative). Entrants who acquired an identical scores in a subcategory each positioned first, guaranteeing honest outcomes.
Filter
- Gesha – Gesha Pure Macizo from Macizo Café and Luis Gabriel Romero of Hacienda Misiones in Cundinamarca, Colombia
- Single origin – Osmanthus Gesha from Mugen Espresso Challenge in La Paz, Bolivia and Oscar Crespo in Samaipata, Bolivia
- Single origin experimental
- Washed
- Pink Bourbon from Café Cultor in Bogotá, Colombia and Estrella del Macizo of El Mirador in Huila, Colombia
- Gesha from Colo Espresso in Bogotá, Colombia and Andres Felipe Realpe in Narino, Colombia
- Pure – Gesha Pure Macizo from Macizo Café and Luis Gabriel Romero of Hacienda Misiones
- Honey – Java Honey Macizo from Macizo Café and Luis Eduardo Moreno of Finca Villa Hermosa in Cundinamarca, Colombia
- Experimental mix – Gento Mix (Bourbon, Caturra, and Catuai) from Gento Espresso Roasters in Guatemala Metropolis, Guatemala and Petrona Perez, Ellen Prentice, and Genaro Juarez in Huehuetenango, Fraijanes, and San Marcos in Guatemala
- Robusta – Pure robusta from Academia Barista Professional and Michael Trung in Lam Dong, Vietnam
- Mix – Home Mix (Maragogype and Caturra) from DeLa Finca Specialty Espresso and Heberto Rivas at DeLa Finca Espresso Farm in Managua, Nicaragua
- Traditional roast profile – Café Baluarte (Sarchimor and Caturra) from Café Baluarte de Veracruz and Graciela Cuevas Panzzi from Chocamán in Veracruz, Mexico
- Decaf – Washed Lomaverde Descafeinado from Pergamino Café in Medellín, Colombia and Familia Echavarría of Finca Lomaverde in Antioquia, Colombia
Espresso
- Single origin – Maragogipe Uva from DeLa Finca Specialty Espresso and Heberto Rivas at DeLa Finca Espresso Farm
- Single origin experimental – Gesha Los Pirineos from Academia Barista Professional and Diego Baraona from Los Pirineos
- Experimental mix – Gesha Carbonic Macerated Honey and Washed Gesha from Academia Barista Professional and Rafa Silvae from Finca El Ángel in Santa Ana, El Salvador and Diego Baraona from Los Pirineos
- Mix – Mix Espresso Macizo (82% washed Caturra and 18% Java Honey) from Macizo Café and Luis Eduardo Moreno of Finca Villa Hermosa
- Traditional roast profile – Finca de Dios (Caturra and Bourbon) from Gento Espresso Roasters and Ellen Prentice in Fraijanes, Guatemala
Flat White Dairy
- Single origin – Papayo from Juan Valdez in Bogotá, Colombia and Jose Leonardo Chinchiya in Huila, Colombia
- Mix – Café Baluarte (Sarchimor, Caturra, and robusta) from Café Baluarte de Veracruz from Cuevas-Cumplido in Veracruz, Mexico
- Traditional roast profile – Café Baluarte Gesha from Café Baluarte de Veracruz and Cadena-Fadanelli in Veracruz, Mexico
Flat White Plant-Primarily based Milk
- Single origin – Chich’upaq Pure (Parainema, Sarchimor, and Yellow Catuaí) from Coffea Cafés Especiales in Antigua, Guatemala and Café de Chichupac in Baja Verapaz, Guatemala
- Experimental – Gesha from Cafeología in San Cristóbal de las Casas, Mexico and Vitali Solís in Chiapas, Mexico
- Mix – Los Volcanes (Bourbon, Caturra, and Catuai) from Gento Espresso Roasters and a number of smallholder producers from Fraijanes and Cooperativa Esquipulas, ASODIETT from Huehuetenango, Guatemala
- Traditional roast profile – Café de las Nubes (Bourbon, Sarchimor, and Gesha) from Café Baluarte de Veracruz and Fadanelli-Cuevas-Cadena in Veracruz, Mexico
MTPak Packaging Award winner: Chica Bean from Sacatepéquez, Guatemala
Key takeaways from GCA Latin America
The highest 5 highest-scoring coffees have been:
- First: Mix Espresso Macizo within the Espresso Mix subcategory
- The espresso was produced by Luis Eduardo Moreno of Finca Villa Hermosa and roasted by Macizo Café
- Second: Maragogipe Uva within the Espresso Single Origin subcategory
- The espresso was produced by Heberto Rivas at DeLa Finca Espresso Farm and roasted by DeLa Finca Specialty Espresso
- This espresso positioned within the 2024 and 2025 Cup of Excellence Nicaragua competitions
- Third: Velvet washed Gesha within the Espresso Single Origin subcategory
- The espresso was produced by La Argentina in Huila, Colombia and roasted by Café Cultor
- Fourth: Gesha Pure Macizo within the Filter Pure subcategory
- The espresso was produced by Luis Gabriel Romero of Hacienda Misiones and roasted by Macizo Café
- Fifth: Java Honey Macizo within the Filter Honey subcategory
- The espresso was produced by Luis Eduardo Moreno of Finca Villa Hermosa and roasted by Macizo Café
All collaborating roasters acquired detailed suggestions types for every pattern submitted. As an illustration, for a Single Origin entry within the Filter class, the judges beneficial a slower Maillard section and longer post-crack time, or a barely increased end temperature, to construct extra physique and complexity; totally different airflow or end-temperature changes would additionally assist clear up the marginally tannic aftertaste famous.
Roasters additionally acquired digital Certificates of Achievement, together with International Espresso Awards seals in Gold, Silver, and Bronze. These distinctive marks of excellence can seem on packaging, advertising supplies, web sites, social media channels, and menus.
You’ll find all of the GCA Latin America class and subcategory winners right here.
Origin Roasted class
There was a separate Origin Roasted class for roasters primarily based in coffee-producing international locations. Because of this if roasters are situated in a producing nation, akin to Colombia, Guatemala, or Honduras, and submit a espresso grown of their residence nation, they acquired automated, free entry into the Origin Roasted class.
This class helps roasting espresso at origin, one among some ways so as to add worth in producing international locations and assist trade professionals in these areas obtain increased costs.
The nationwide winners are:
- Bolivia: Mugen Espresso Challenge
- Colombia: Macizo Café
- Ecuador: SIMPO in Samborondón, Ecuador
- El Salvador: Academia Barista Professional
- Guatemala: Gento Espresso Roasters
- Honduras: Olanch Café with numerous areas throughout Honduras
- Mexico: Café Baluarte de Veracruz
- Nicaragua: DeLa Finca Specialty Espresso
- Peru: Abisinia Firm in Pueblo Libre, Peru
Upcoming International Espresso Awards editions
The 2026 GCA Europe version will probably be held in October. Judging will happen at Belco in Bordeaux, France. The entry package is right here, and all samples have to be acquired by 21 October 2026.
Each Gold, Silver, and Bronze total class winner from the 2026 MENA, Africa, Asia, US & Canada, Latin America, and Europe editions will probably be invited to compete within the 2026 GCA World Championship, held at PRF Mexico on 18 and 19 March 2027.
The International Espresso Awards & PRF Annual Dinner will happen throughout the two-day discussion board. All profitable roasters and producers from the regional competitions are invited to attend, and so they’ll be formally recognised alongside the newly topped World Champions.
“It was so rewarding for us to obtain this recognition, particularly being a roaster at origin,” says Adriana Villanueva at Café Cultor, which additionally positioned third within the 2025 International Espresso Awards World Championship.
“Being the third-best roaster on the GCA World Championship has allowed us to objectively present that, via a rigorous course of, we will ship a assure of high quality and excellence to our prospects.”
Tickets to the International Espresso Awards & PRF Annual Dinner are open to all PRF attendees and go on sale within the coming weeks. You too can view the knowledge package right here.
The dinner provides attendees a uncommon likelihood to community with leaders from throughout the specialty espresso trade, together with award-winning roasters and Cup of Excellence-winning producers.
The 2026 GCA would be the greatest version up to now, drawing extra roasters from world wide than ever earlier than.
By means of its worldwide competitors circuit, the GCA identifies the strongest roasters in every area, then brings them collectively within the World Championship to search out the World’s Finest Roaster.
Contact [email protected] and the GCA Gross sales and Partnerships Supervisor, Emi Rueda, through WhatsApp right here for extra data.
Apply to compete within the GCA right here.
Photograph credit: Gradual Pour Provide, Flannery Lenz, Macizo Café, Mugen Espresso Challenge, DeLa Finca Specialty Espresso, Academia Barista Professional, Cafeología, Chica Bean
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