Julius Meinl
The Julius Meinl Barista Cup returns in 2026, bringing together Julius Meinl baristas from around the world to showcase their skills across three competition categories: Espresso, Cappuccino and Signature Drink.
From April to July 2026, national competitions were held across 15 countries: Austria, Bosnia & Herzegovina, China, Croatia, Czech Republic, Georgia, Germany, Hungary, Italy, Moldova, Poland, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia and Serbia.
The national champions then advanced to the Grand Finale, which will take place in Julius Meinl's home city of Vienna on 4 September 2026.
JULIUS MEINL BARISTA CUP 2026
THE LOCAL WINNERS
Cuwan Alin
GERMANY
János Vörös
HUNGARY
Bogdan Beljanski
SERBIA
David Melicher
SLOVAKIA
Danica Yang
CHINA
Kristijan Knežević
CROATIA
Stefania Gilardi
ITALY
Elizaveta Rîmscaia
MOLDOVA
Jožef Fartek
SLOVENIA
Jakub Sihelský
CZECH REPUBLIC
Luka Darispanashvili
GEORGIA
Stefan Kot
POLAND
Norbert Vincze
ROMANIA
THE GRAND FINALE JUDGES
TIM STURK
HEAD JUDGE
Over 20 years of experience in specialty coffee, quality assurance and education. A Licensed Q Grader and World Barista Championship Sensory Judge, he is Director of Coffee Education at Cherry Coffee Training, helping businesses improve coffee quality and develop high-performing teams.
JUNIOR VARGAS
HEAD JUDGE
With over 15 years in specialty coffee, Junior is an Authorised SCA Trainer (AST), Q Grader and Q Instructor. A five-time Austrian Barista Champion and 2022 World Espresso Champion, I focus on education, quality and sustainability.
ALI VOGEL
SENSORY JUDGE
Ali Vogel is CEO of Vogel Kaffee Roastery, recognised among Vienna's top specialty coffee shops. With 20 years in hospitality and 10 years in specialty coffee, he is the 2024 Austrian Latte Art Champion and Austrian Latte Art Coach for 2025/26.
RAUL JUAN SORITA
SENSORY JUDGE
Raul Juan Sorita has over 12 years of international experience across the coffee value chain. A Food Engineer, Licensed Q Arabica Grader and Q Instructor, he is Senior Specialist in Process Optimisation and Global Coffee Expert at Julius Meinl.
MARCIN KOZICKI
SENSORY JUDGE
Over 18 years of experience across the coffee value chain. As Brand Ambassador for Julius Meinl Poland and an Authorised SCA Trainer (AST), Marcin leads coffee training and quality initiatives. A finalist in several national coffee championships, he is passionate about coffee education and excellence.
PRADIP DHUNGEL
SENSORY JUDGE
Pradip has over 15 years of experience in the coffee industry. As Head of Quality and Training for Julius Meinl UAE & MEA, he leads quality and training across the region. A certified coffee trainer, licensed Q Grader and coffee competition judge, he is passionate about coffee excellence.
BEN HELT
TECHNICAL JUDGE
Ben Helt has over 20 years of experience in specialty coffee. As Technical Training Director at BWT water+more and an SCA Q Instructor, he helps coffee professionals optimise water for better coffee quality.
TAMARA NADOLPH
TECHNICAL JUDGE
Tamara is an Austrian coffee professional with over 15 years of experience in specialty coffee. A coffee roaster, latte art trainer and four-time Austrian Latte Art Champion, she is passionate about coffee quality, craftsmanship and education.
THE CATEGORIES
Espresso
In the Espresso category, competitors will be judged on both visual appeal and taste, aiming for the perfect extraction of Julius Meinl's Gloriette Gold.
1. Judges will examine the crema, the golden layer that crowns a top quality espresso.
2. Judges will evaluate the espresso's flavour profile, from its balance and complexity, to its richness and clarity.
Cappuccino
In the Cappuccino category, baristas will be judged on both the visual appeal of Latte Art and on the quality of the taste experience.
1. Judges will closely evaluate the key steps of the milk preparation process.
2. Judges will evaluate whether the cappuccino has a harmonious blend of espresso and milk.
3. Judges will assess the visual presentation of the cappuccino’s latte art, such as symmetry and clarity of the pattern.
Signature drink
In the Signature Drink category, baristas must craft a visually appealing and flavourful coffee or tea-based beverage that highlights their creativity and skill.
1. Judges will evaluate the presentaion of the drink for creatvity and visual appeal.
2. Judges will evaluate how well the taste components of the beverage fit together and complement each other in the total consumption experience.
THE LOCATION
The 2026 Julius Meinl Barista Cup Grand Finale will take place at Vienna's MuseumsQuartier, one of the city's most vibrant cultural destinations. Located in the heart of Vienna, the premium venue will welcome both local visitors and international guests, bringing the competition to a broad public audience.
With its lively urban atmosphere and multiple event spaces, MuseumsQuartier will provide the ideal setting to showcase coffee craftsmanship through a connected visitor journey. Branded activations across the venue will invite guests to experience the world of Julius Meinl while celebrating Vienna's renowned coffee house culture in one of the city's most iconic locations.
OUR SPONSORS
Designed and produced in Italy with almost a century of experience, Rancilio coffee machines are globally renowned for their exceptional craftsmanship and quality. The Rancilio Specialty RS1 is the professional coffee machine that will be used by competitors in the regional and global competitions.
Fiorenzato has been designing and manufacturing high-performance professional grinders for over 80 years, delivering consistent, precise results time after time for state-of-the-art coffee. Competitors will use Fiorenzato’s professional grinders in the regional and global competitions.
DaVinci Gourmet joins as the official syrups partner, delivering smart beverage solutions for menu-defining flavour experiences. Developed for beverage professionals, DaVinci Gourmet syrups offer performance, balanced sweetness and premium flavour across hot, cold and signature drinks.
BWT is dedicated to water, which plays a crucial role in creating the perfect coffee and the protection of your coffee machine. BWT offers innovative solutions to raise the sensory quality of water for gastronomy. The competition will use the innovative BWT bestaqua ROC systems with unique reverse osmosis technology setting new standards in water optimisation.
THE PRIZE: A COFFEE ORIGIN TRIP TO INDIA
The four winners of the Julius Meinl Barista Cup, the overall champion and the winners of the Espresso, Cappuccino and Signature Drink categories, will each win an exclusive coffee origin trip to India.
Travelling through Kerala and Karnataka, they will meet the farmers and suppliers behind Julius Meinl coffee, explore Robusta plantations and experience coffee processing first-hand. They will also discover the Julius Meinl Generations Programme, developed in collaboration with Fairtrade to support farming communities and more resilient livelihoods.
In Ooty, the winners will visit a Julius Meinl tea supplier partnered with Fairtrade to learn about tea cultivation and processing.
Along the way, they will experience India’s culture, communities and landscapes, returning home with new knowledge, inspiration and a deeper understanding of origin.
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About us
Julius Meinl has been bringing customers premium coffee and tea since 1862, serving premium hot drinks. With over 150 years of experience and innovation behind us, we share our expertise and unique service culture with coffee houses, hotels, restaurants and other businesses.
Coffee expertise
Premium coffee starts with tropical sun and volcanic soil in the coffee growing regions 23°N – 25°S of the equator. After harvesting, it’s transported for blending, roasting and packing. The journey involves many delicate stages which demand experience, skill and quality control.
Tea expertise
Premium tea is the culmination of all sorts of elements, from sunshine and soil, to picking, rolling, blending and much more.