Estimated studying time: 9 minutes
Key takeaways
- The International Espresso Awards (GCA) recognise the world’s finest roasteries and the producers who provide their coffees.
- International Espresso Awards Asia will happen on 17 June 2026 in Charleston, South Carolina, US.
- Asia’s espresso consumption has jumped by greater than 14% since 2018, surpassing North America and Europe.
- In 2026, the GCA may also host regional MENA, Africa, the US & Canada, Latin America, Europe, and Origin Roasted competitions.
The International Espresso Awards (GCA) recognise and have a good time the perfect roasters from around the globe. All through 2025, the competitors hosted US & Canada, Europe, and Origin Roasted (roasters based mostly in coffee-producing nations) editions.
The 2025 GCA World Championship was lately held at Producer & Roaster Discussion board (PRF) in El Salvador, the place Lithuania’s Huracán Espresso was named the world’s finest roaster.
This yr, GCA will increase into Asia, the world’s fastest-growing espresso market. Not solely will this construct on the competitors’s explosive progress, however it would lead to one of the crucial thrilling editions so far.
Be taught extra about GCA right here.
Why Asia?
GCA is structured round regional competitions, inviting roasters of all sizes, from small-batch independents to nationwide manufacturers, to submit their finest coffees throughout outlined classes. The awards recognise the corporate as an entire relatively than any particular person, giving roasters a platform to strengthen their branding and advertising.
“We noticed how dedicated roasters had been to collaborating within the World Championship, and there was large curiosity from outdoors the US & Canada, Europe, and Origin Roasted nations final yr, together with Japan and Taiwan,” says Emi Rueda, Gross sales and Relationship Supervisor on the International Espresso Awards. “This enthusiasm has pushed us to increase into completely different areas in 2026, together with the Center East & North Africa, Africa, and Asia.
“Extra roasters than ever can have the chance to showcase their most distinctive coffees this yr.”
GCA’s transfer into the Asian market, specifically, is notable. Espresso consumption throughout Asia is rising quicker than in North America and Europe, rising by greater than 14% since 2018 as specialty manufacturers and chains increase throughout the area.
“Asia is an extremely various area for espresso,” Emi explains. “We’ll see roasters from extremely refined, mature markets like Japan and Taiwan compete with these in nations like China, India, and Kazakhstan, the place specialty espresso consumption is booming.”
Japan is without doubt one of the world’s largest espresso customers, with roasters typically paying hefty costs for competition-winning tons. Shanghai, in the meantime, lately earned the title of the “world’s most compelling espresso metropolis”, with over 9,000 espresso retailers – greater than London, New York Metropolis, or Tokyo.
In rising specialty espresso markets like India and Indonesia, for instance, progressive roasters are driving consumption. By 2030, India’s espresso market is forecast to double in worth, with specialty espresso accounting for practically 18% of this progress.
“India and Asia are seeing speedy progress in specialty espresso, with customers turning into extra thinking about origin, brewing, and sensory experiences,” says Marc Tormo, founding father of Espresso Concepts (beneath the model Marc’s Espresso), the India Nationwide Winner on the 2025 International Espresso Awards Origin Roasted competitors. “The area can be producing distinctive coffees, providing robust potential for innovation and progress.”
Indonesia, in the meantime, is now the world’s fifth largest espresso shopper, making it Asia’s fastest-growing espresso market.
“GCA Asia will convey all these markets collectively, culminating in a regional champion to characterize Asia on the worldwide stage in March 2027,” says Emi.
Supporting roasters to promote extra espresso
The GCA focuses on roasted espresso relatively than inexperienced beans, offering a complete high quality evaluation that encompasses a variety of espresso interesting to various shopper preferences. Roasters achieve worldwide visibility and media protection, and their coffees are highlighted in ways in which additionally have a good time the producers.
“The coffees in every class are ready as a shopper would expertise them in a café, utilizing particular brew ratios and brewing protocols,” Emi explains. “This real-world evaluation ensures that coffees are judged as precisely as attainable.”
Every espresso is evaluated via a two-stage blind tasting: judges first conduct a two-minute quantitative sensory evaluation to attain and describe the espresso, adopted by a three-minute dialogue led by a coordinator to refine and align qualitative suggestions. All feedback are meant to be constructive and inspiring, providing clear perception with out pointless technical element.
Each roaster receives suggestions on the way in which they interpret and roast their coffees. This suggestions is geared in the direction of advertising, serving to roasters promote their coffees extra successfully to the fitting clients.
“The GCA permits roasters to benchmark their coffees internationally whereas gaining visibility within the specialty espresso group,” Marc says. “It additionally encourages studying, dialogue, and recognition of high quality and craftsmanship.
“The competitors has helped Espresso Concepts strengthen its give attention to high quality and innovation, achieve worldwide publicity, and join with trade professionals, and it has additionally supported the worldwide promotion of Indian coffees.”
MTPak Espresso, a number one international provider of custom-printed espresso packaging, is the International Espresso Awards Gold Sponsor 2026. Hiroia, a espresso gear producer, is the GCA Official Tools Accomplice, and Blue Water, a water purification firm, is the GCA Asia Official Water Sponsor.
“Espresso is 98% water. For too lengthy, water has been the least managed ingredient within the cup, and Bluewater adjustments that,” says , President of Bluewater USA Inc. “Water constructed for espresso means management: similar espresso, similar recipe, similar style profile – whether or not you’re brewing in Sydney, Stockholm, or Seattle.
“We take away the guesswork. We purify the water, take away what shouldn’t be there, and remineralise with intention.”
On 17 June 2026, GCA Asia can be hosted at inexperienced espresso importer Balzac Brothers in Charleston, South Carolina, within the US, the place all samples can be despatched for judging and evaluation. The occasion was initially scheduled to be held in Dubai, the UAE, however was rescheduled following battle within the Center East.
Why roasters ought to participate in International Espresso Awards Asia
A few of the roasters who’ve already submitted coffees to GCA Asia embrace:
- Japan’s Philocoffea Inc, Filter Provide, and Terasaki Espresso
- Widespread Man Espresso Roasters in Singapore
- Vietnam’s Each Half Espresso Roasters
- Curve Espresso Collaborators within the Philippines
- Taiwan’s Kakalove Cafe and All Day Roasting Firm
- South Korea’s Alegria Espresso Roasters
- PT. Kopi Kina in Indonesia
- India’s Roastery Espresso Home
- Hidden Espresso in Hong Kong
Along with judging suggestions, all taking part roasters will obtain digital Certificates of Achievement, and successful roasters will obtain Gold, Silver, and Bronze International Espresso Awards seals. These are distinctive marks of excellence that they will show on their packaging, advertising supplies, web sites, social media channels, and menus to assist drive gross sales.
You’ll find the 2025 GCA World Championship Gold winners right here.
For roasters based mostly in coffee-producing nations, there can be a separate Origin Roasted class. Which means if roasters are situated in a producing nation and submit a espresso grown of their house nation, they obtain computerized, free entry into the Origin Roasted class.
“We’re spotlighting roasters in producing areas, typically much less recognised on a global stage, who’re supporting and representing their nation’s espresso sector,” says Emi.
The complete 2026 GCA schedule additionally consists of:
- MENA (Center East and North Africa): 15 June 2026. Judging will happen at Balzac Brothers
- Africa (excluding MENA nations): 16 June 2026 at Balzac Brothers
- US & Canada: 10 August 2026. Judging will happen at Copan Commerce in Houston, Texas, US
- Latin America: 12 August 2026 at Copan Commerce
- Europe: 12 October 2026. Judging will happen at Belco in Bordeaux, France
For the 2027 version, GCA goals to increase into Oceania for full worldwide protection.
In keeping with judging and roaster suggestions, there can be new classes and subcategories on the 2026 GCA occasions. These embrace:
- Espresso – Experimental Mix and Basic Roast Profile
- Filter – Experimental Mix, Basic Roast Profile, Liberica, Gesha, Co-Fermented, and Barrel Aged
- Flat White Dairy and Flat White Plant-Based mostly Milk (renamed for readability) – Experimental and Basic Roast Profile
“The brand new classes and subcategories are based mostly on what we’re seeing within the espresso market, together with in Asia,” says Emi. “Roasters on this area are sourcing extra experimentally processed tons, as an illustration, and extra younger persons are ingesting RTD and chilly espresso.”
Class availability can be decided based mostly on regional participation ranges, market relevance, and product recognition. This ensures that every competitors displays the realities of its native and regional market whereas sustaining international consistency in judging requirements.
How can I apply?
Roasters should first select their entry package deal earlier than submitting samples. All coffees submitted for the GCA Asia have to be obtained by 10 June 2026. The entry equipment, which incorporates judging varieties, is on the market right here.
The successful regional roasters can be invited completely to compete within the 2027 GCA World Championships, to be held at PRF 2027, with the situation to be confirmed within the coming months. This may embrace the GCA Awards Ceremony and Annual Dinner, giving roasters and producers the chance to community with trade leaders and specialists.
To be taught extra about how you can apply to the GCA and the way the competitors works, you’ll be able to watch these movies.
For these wanting to participate in different capacities, there are two Sensory Choose spots and two Competitors Barista spots obtainable. Shortlisted candidates can be invited to an interview. Sensory Judges can apply right here, and Competitors Baristas can apply right here.
The 2026 GCA would be the largest version but, that includes extra roasters from around the globe than ever.
By means of its worldwide competitors circuit, the GCA is designed not solely to establish the perfect roasters throughout areas but in addition to pit them towards each other, culminating in a worldwide champion.
Contact [email protected] and the GCA Gross sales and Relationship Supervisor, Emi Rueda, through WhatsApp right here for extra info.
Apply to compete within the GCA right here.
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