International Coffee Tasting 2026 awards 38 Gold Medals: the winning companies

AWARDS AND RECOGNITIONS - International Coffee Tasting 2026 concluded with the awarding of 38 Gold Medals. The international competition, organized by IIAC – International Institute of Coffee Tasters, now in its eighteenth year, was hosted by the Lavazza Training Center in Settimo (Turin).

The evaluations involved 37 international sensory judges, supported by a team of 15 professionals. Over 22,000 sensory data points were collected over two days.

The competition included seven categories: filter, moka, single-serve, espresso blends, single-origin espresso and, for the first time in Italy, ready-to-drink and instant coffee.

The tastings were conducted blind, without the judges knowing the products being tested, according to rigorous sensory analysis rules. The results were then processed using statistical procedures. The formula used to calculate the scores is public and available on the competition's official website.

The companies awarded at International Coffee Tasting 2026

26 companies from Italy, Japan, Slovenia, Spain, South Korea, Germany, and the United States won the 38 Gold Medals.

Below is the list of awarded companies, in alphabetical order:

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Allied Coffee Roasters, Saedocho, Yokohama, Giappone

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Apulia Vending, Martina Franca (TA), Italy

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Atlantic Group, Ljubljana, Slovenia

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Caffè Agust, Brescia, Italy

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Caffè Borbone, Caivano (NA), Italy

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Brazilian Coffee, Imperia, Italy

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Cagliari Coffee, Modena, Italy

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Caffè Haiti Roma, Rome, Italy

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Caffè Marodda, Scalea (CS), Italy

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Caffè Mokarico, Borgo San Lorenzo (FI), Italy

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Caffè Morandini, Esine (BS), Italy

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Café Dromedario, Heras, Cantabria, Spain

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Cafes La Brasileña, Vitoria-Gasteiz, Álava, Spain

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Dmine Coffee Roasters, Ansan, Gyeonggi-do, Corea del Sud

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Drago Mocambo Caffè, Radevormwald, Germany

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Italcaffè, Ceparana (SP), Italy

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La Genovese, Albenga (SV), Italy

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LiftUp Roast, Berkeley, CA, United States

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Mokador, Faenza (RA), Italy

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Mokito, Milan, Italy

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Morettino, Palermo, Italy

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Nestlé, Assago (MI), Italy

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Rostro, Shibuya-ku, Tokyo, Japan

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Gran Salvador Coffee Roasting Company, Brescia, Italy

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Goriziana Coffee Roasting, Gorizia, Italy

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Trismoka, Paratico (BS), Italy

Commenting on the results, Carlo Odello, president of IIAC – International Institute of Coffee Tasters, said: "We thank all the companies that have chosen to participate in this period of significant evolution for the global coffee world. The gold medals awarded demonstrate a resilient coffee sector, with companies that are balancing market needs with product quality. The fact that we have awarded prizes across multiple categories reaffirms the opportunity to enjoy quality products in many different forms, an opportunity that makes coffee an extremely versatile beverage."

Sensory profiles and product publication

Participating companies will receive a sensory profile of their competing products, along with the ICT Benchmarks. This tool allows them to compare the sensory characteristics of their coffees with those of Gold Medal-winning products or other products in the same category.

Participating products will also be included in the new publication "L'Italia del Caffè" (Coffee Italy) by the Repubblica Guides. The project aims to offer consumers an authoritative, specific, and scientific guide to navigate the world of coffee.

The complete list of International Coffee Tasting 2026 Gold Medal winners can be found on the competition's official website.