International Espresso Awards crown the perfect roasters in Asia

Estimated studying time: 13 minutes

Key takeaways

• The International Espresso Awards (GCA) honour the world’s greatest roasters and the producers behind their coffees.
• The Asia version was held on 17 June 2026.
• The general winner of the Asia version is All Day Roasting Firm from Taipei, Taiwan.
• The highest-scoring espresso was Strawberry Cheesecake Catuai Cultured Yeast Course of within the Filter Single Origin Experimental subcategory.
• All Gold, Silver, and Bronze class winners are invited to compete within the 2026 GCA World Championship.

The Asia version of the International Espresso Awards (GCA) occurred on 17 June 2026. Roasters from numerous nations, together with India, the Philippines, Indonesia, Singapore, Taiwan, Malaysia, Vietnam, China, Japan, Kazakhstan, Hong Kong, and Thailand, submitted their greatest coffees throughout a number of classes and subcategories.

A head decide and at the least 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 and Cup of Excellence, and an professional panel interviewed and chosen every one 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 concerning the GCA’s upcoming competitions.

Study extra concerning the GCA right here.

Awarding excellence in Asia’s numerous espresso market

The GCA runs its competitions on a regional foundation. 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.

“The International Espresso Awards acknowledge roasting excellence all around the world, however the Asia version is especially notable,” 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.

“Asia has shortly turn out to be the espresso trade’s new centre of gravity, and it’s an extremely numerous market,” he provides. “As a part of our give attention to distinctive espresso packaging, we chosen one roaster whose design stood out as probably the most inventive, eye-catching, and forward-thinking.”

The GCA expanded into Asia this 12 months after profitable editions within the US & Canada, Europe, and Origin Roasted nations (any coffee-producing nation) in 2025.

“It’s one in all our most fun competitions thus far,” says Emi Rueda, Gross sales and Relationship Supervisor on the International Espresso Awards. “We’re extremely excited for this 12 months’s competitors, which options an elite panel of high-profile judges, together with former Cup of Excellence (CoE) specialists. In actual fact, some are even stepping away from World Barista Championship (WBC) judging duties particularly to convey their experience to the International Espresso Awards.”

Initially scheduled for Dubai, the competitors was hosted at Balzac Brothers.

“Asia is arguably probably the most dynamic and quickly evolving specialty espresso market on the planet proper now, pushed by a singular mix of custom and hyper-modern innovation,” says Eurie Chen, Gross sales & Advertising and marketing at GCA Tools Accomplice Hiroia. “Seeing entries from each established and rising markets reveals simply how a lot ardour there’s in espresso proper now.

“The GCA gives a blind, expert-led analysis of your work. It’s a useful alternative to get unbiased suggestions in your roasting profiles and see how your coffees stack up on a worldwide stage.”

Breaking down 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 staff getting ready the samples, obtain any figuring out data. 

In consequence, judges assess each espresso on high quality alone relatively than a roastery’s popularity.

“A strict double-blind protocol is the one solution to decide pretty. Once you take away a roastery’s identify from the method, you’ll be able to solely decide the espresso itself,” says Solar Huang, a GCA Head Decide and a Taiwanese espresso skilled with over a decade of expertise. Solar has served as a decide on the 2025 Nicaragua Cup of Excellence (CoE), the 2025 Peru CoE, the 2020 Taza Dorada Ecuador, the 2019 regional Australia Brewers Cup, and the 2022 PromPeru Taipei Inventive Espresso competitions.

The judging panel consists of a Head Decide, an authorized Lead Sensory Decide, licensed Q grader Sensory Judges, a Head Barista and a barista staff. A minimum of three judges and a Head Decide 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 preserve this consistency all through the judging course of.

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 kinds and how one can enhance them.

Classes at GCA Asia

The Asia classes had been Filter, Espresso, Flat White Dairy, Flat White Plant-Primarily based Milk, and Specialty Drip Bag. Every class included a number of subcategories, resembling Single Origin Experimental, Gesha, Co-Fermented, and Robusta.

The staff ready all coffees as a client would expertise them in a café, utilizing particular brew parameters and brewing protocols to take care of consistency and guarantee honest, correct judging.

Tools Accomplice Hiroia supplied Hikaru automated pour over programs. Tools Accomplice GH Grinding + Brewing Options supplied particularly modified Bentwood Vertical 75 grinders. Water purification and remineralisation programs had been supplied 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. 

You could find detailed details about the judging standards right here. 

The winners of the 2026 International Espresso Awards Asia

The winners of the 2026 GCA Asia version are:

General winner: All Day Roasting Firm from Taipei, Taiwan

Class winners

• Filter – All Day Roasting Firm
• Espresso – oma Espresso Roaster from Tai Grasp, Hong Kong
• Flat White Dairy – Kopikina Espresso Roaster from Jakarta, Indonesia
• Flat White Plant-Primarily based Milk – All Day Roasting Firm
• Specialty Drip Bag – Addicto Espresso from Bangkok, Thailand

Listed here are the gold winners of every sub-category (roaster and producer, exporter, or co-operative). Entrants who acquired similar scores in a subcategory each positioned first, guaranteeing the outcomes stayed honest.

Filter

• Gesha – Gesha Pure Calas from oma Espresso Roaster and Estela Pitti at Los Cenizos in Cerro Punta, Panama
• Single origin – Backyard Fairy Heirloom from Hidden Espresso from Yau Ma Tei, Hong Kong and Pebble Espresso in Yirgacheffe, Ethiopia
• Single origin experimental
• Washed – Oasis Heirloom (Dega, Kurume, and Wolisho varieties) from Mobydick Espresso Roasters from Shanghai, China and Faysel A. Yonis at Suke Kudensa in Guji, Ethiopia
• Co-Fermented – Colombia Yeast Washed Apricot Castillo from Kakalove Café from Chiayi Metropolis, Taiwan and José Posada at Capilla del Rosario in Antioquia, Colombia
• Pure – N791 and 74158 from All Day Roasting Firm and Niguse Gemeda at Karamo Espresso Export from Sidama, Ethiopia
• Honey – PHISATE-FH1 Java from Phisate Espresso Roaster from Phetchaburi, Thailand and Espresso De Mhong in Nan, Thailand
• Experimental mix – Blueberry Night time Mix (Castillo, SL28, and SL34 with Kenyan Yellow Honey and Colombian Yeast Washed coffees) from Bean Barn from Taipei, Taiwan (varied producers undisclosed)
• Liberica – Liberica M’Drak from Each Half Espresso Roasters from Ho Chi Minh, Vietnam and Vietnam Espresso Cooperative from Daklak, Vietnam
• Robusta – Robusta from Curve Espresso Collaborators from Manila, the Philippines and Reyjohn Basco in Sultan Kudarat, the Philippines 
• Barrel aged – Reserve barrel aged washed SLN-795 from Beanrove Espresso from Bengaluru, India and D.M. Shanker from Kalledevarapura Property in Aralaguppe, India
• Mix – Angel Fruit Home Mix from Artigiano Jikabi Espresso Roasters from Kaohsiung Metropolis, Taiwan and a number of producers
• Basic roast profile – SLN-795 from Roastery Espresso Home from Hyderabad, India and Hamsini Appadurai at Sangameshwar Espresso Estates in Bengaluru, India
• Decaf – Tumbaga Sugarcane Decaf (varied arabica varieties) from Massimo Espresso from Almaty, Kazakhstan and varied producers at Sucafina in Colombia (Cauca, Tolima, Antioquia, and Eje Cafetero)

Espresso

• Mix
  • Kalledevarapura Basic Mix (90% SLN 795 and 10% SLN 13) from Beanrove Espresso and D.M. Shanker from Kalledevarapura Property
  • Mr. Tommy Gayo and Bourbon from Doi Tung from Chiang Rai, Thailand and Alongkorn and Panumas in Thailand
  • Prima 74158/Heirloom from Hidden Espresso and Tamiru Tadesse at Pebble Espresso
• Basic roast profile – Catuai Washed from oma Espresso Roaster and Marcus Duran at Adaura Finca Lorayne in Boquete, Panama
• Experimental mix – Tender Pop (Catimor and Typica) from Addicto Espresso and a number of producers
• Single origin
  • Koke Shalaye 74110, 74112, and 74165 from All Day Roasting Firm and Abreham Mengiste at Primrose Espresso in Yirgacheffe, Ethiopia
  • Raro Washed G1 from D23 Espresso Roasters from Taipei, Taiwan and a number of producers from Wolisho, Dega, and Kurumi in Guji, Ethiopia
• Single origin experimental – Imunika Purple Blue Mountain Typica from Imunika Korea from Seoul, South Korea and undisclosed producers from Marawaka in Papua New Guinea

Flat White Dairy

• Mix – Million Greenback Brew (Catimor, Typica, and Mokka) from Henry & Sons from Manila, the Philippines and Elma Serna at Sitio Hartwell in Cordillera, the Philippines
• Basic roast profile – Aceh Gayo Semi Washed Basic Roast Combine from Kopikina Espresso Roaster and DeGayo in Indonesia
• Experimental – Madame Parodox (40% pure, yeast, and pichia fermentation Typica and 60% washed double anaerobic thermal shock Sidra) from Paco Espresso from Singapore and a number of undisclosed producers from Huila, Colombia and Kamala, Bali, Indonesia
• Single origin
  • Koke Shalaye 74110, 74112, and 74165 from All Day Roasting Firm and Abreham Mengiste at Primrose Espresso
  • Bagan Ningrat pure liberica from Home of Kendal from Selangor, Malaysia and varied undisclosed producers from Bagan, Batu Pahat, and Johor in Malaysia

Flat White Plant-Primarily based Milk

• Mix – All Day Mix from All Day Roasting Firm and varied undisclosed producers
• Basic roast profile – Midnight Chocolate (50% robusta and 50% liberica) from Each Half Espresso Roasters and Vietnam Espresso Cooperative
• Experimental – So Nomad (Yellow Bourbon, Purple Catuai, Papayo, Ombligon, Castillo, Obatan, and Yellow Catuai) from Hidden Espresso and Nestor Lasso at Finca Diviso in Huila, Colombia, Julio Madrid at Café Uba in Dosquebradas, Colombia and varied undisclosed producers in Cerrado Mineiro, Brazil
• Single origin – Caballero Catuai from Terasaki Espresso from Yamanashi, Japan and Marysabel Caballero and Moises Herrera at Finca El Puente in Honduras

Specialty Drip Bag

• Mix – DT Mix (Gayo and Typica) from Doi Tung from Panumas Chermue in Thailand
• Experimental – Tender Pop (Catimor and Typica) from Addicto Espresso and a number of producers
• Single origin – Sidra and Bourbon from Widespread Man Espresso Roasters from Singapore and Nestor Lasso at Finca El Diviso

MTPak Packaging Award winner: Roemah Koffie in Surabaya, Indonesia

The highest three highest-scoring coffees had been:

• First: Strawberry Cheesecake Catuai Cultured Yeast Course of within the Filter Single Origin Experimental subcategory
  • The espresso was produced by Ashok Patre at Ratnagiri Espresso Plantations and roasted by The Espresso Circus on a 25kg roaster
• Second: Phisate-FH1 Java within the Filter Honey subcategory
  • The espresso was produced by Espresso De Mhong and roasted by Phisate Espresso Roaster on a 1.8kg roaster
• Third: Million Greenback Brew (Catimor, Typica, and Mokka) within the Flat White Dairy Mix subcategory
  • The espresso was produced by Elma Serna at Sitio Hartwell and roasted by Henry & Sons on a 50kg roaster

All taking part roasters acquired detailed suggestions kinds for every pattern submitted. For instance, for a Liberica entry within the Filter class, the judges urged extending the roast or improvement time to construct extra physique, whereas rising airflow might spotlight acidity and floral traits.

Roasters additionally acquired digital Certificates of Achievement and International Espresso Awards seals in Gold, Silver, and Bronze. These are distinctive marks of excellence that they’ll show on their packaging, advertising and marketing supplies, web sites, social media channels, and menus.

You could find all of the GCA Asia 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 acquired by 5 August 2026.
• Latin America & Caribbean: Judging will happen at Copan Commerce. The entry equipment is right here (accessible in English and Spanish), and all samples have to be acquired 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 acquired by 21 October 2026.

For roasters primarily based in coffee-producing nations, there might be a separate Origin Roasted class. Which means if roasters are positioned in a producing nation, resembling Bolivia, Ecuador, or Panama, and submit a espresso grown of their dwelling nation, they obtain computerized, free entry into the Origin Roasted class.

Upcoming webinar

The Spanish-language How you can Compete within the International Espresso Awards webinar, going down on 15 July, is designed for roasters contemplating the upcoming Latin America & Caribbean competitors. The webinar will present an outline of the competitors course of, together with espresso choice, submission technique, judging, scoring, and class choice.

Confirmed audio system embrace Adriana Villanueva from four-time GCA Origin Roasted Gold winners Café Cultor (Bogotá, Colombia) and Norberto Vásquez from GCA Origin Roasted Cabra Negra (Quito, Ecuador), which gained Gold within the GCA Origin Roasted Flat White Various Single Origin Conventional subcategory. 

You may register right here to attend the Spanish webinar.

The 2026 GCA would be the largest version but, that includes extra roasters from all over the world than ever earlier than.

By means of its worldwide competitors circuit, the GCA identifies the perfect roasters throughout areas and pits them towards each other within the World Championship to search out the World’s Greatest Roaster.

Contact [email protected] and the GCA Gross sales and Relationship Supervisor, Emi Rueda, by way of WhatsApp right here for extra data.

Apply to compete within the GCA right here.

Photograph credit: International Espresso Awards, All Day Roasting Firm, Roemah Koffie, Paco Espresso, Each Half Espresso Roasters, oma Espresso Roaster, Kopikina Espresso Roaster,  Roastery Espresso Home

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