Vienna – September 12, 2026 -- Elizaveta Rîmscaia from Moldova was crowned Overall Champion 2026 at the Julius Meinl Barista Cup Grand Finale, held on September 4 at Vienna's MuseumsQuartier, beating 14 other national champions across three competitive categories.
More than 350 baristas from 15 countries entered the annual competition
National competitions were held across 15 countries, including Austria, Italy, Germany, China, Georgia and Croatia, drawing over 350 applications before 15 national champions advanced to the Vienna finale. Competitors were judged by an independent international panel across Espresso, Cappuccino and Signature Drink categories.
Judges scored espresso on crema, cappuccino on latte art and signature drinks on creativity
Stefan Kot of Poland won the Espresso category, judged on taste, balance and crema. Mario Benetseder of Austria took the Cappuccino title, evaluated on the harmony of espresso and milk alongside latte art. Luka Darispanashvili of Georgia won the Signature Drink category on creativity and flavour balance. Rîmscaia secured the Overall Champion title with the highest combined score across all three disciplines.
All four category winners will travel to India to study coffee origin and sourcing
The winners will join an exclusive trip to India to observe coffee cultivation, harvesting and processing firsthand. The itinerary includes exposure to the Julius Meinl Generations Programme, run in collaboration with Fairtrade, which supports selected farmers in building more resilient livelihoods and creating opportunities for the next generation.
Vienna event opened to the public for the first time, serving over 1,000 cups
The 2026 Grand Finale marked the first time the event was open to public attendance, drawing thousands of visitors to MuseumsQuartier. More than a thousand cups of coffee were served over the course of the day as attendees watched the live competition.
Christina Meinl, VP Group Strategies, Brand & Corporate Communication and fifth-generation family member, said the event brought together national champions who work daily with Julius Meinl coffee to shape guest experiences in cafés, restaurants and hotels worldwide.