Moldova's Rîmscaia Wins Julius Meinl Barista Cup 2026 in Vienna
Vienna – September 13, 2026 -- Elizaveta Rîmscaia of Moldova was crowned Overall Champion at the Julius Meinl International Barista Cup 2026 Grand Finale, held September 4 in Vienna's MuseumsQuartier, beating 14 other national champions across three brewing disciplines.
Austrian barista Mario Benetseder claims cappuccino title on home turf
Benetseder secured the win in the Cappuccino discipline, judged on the interplay of espresso and milk plus latte art execution. Stefan Kot of Poland took the Espresso category, evaluated on taste, balance and crema, while Luka Darispanashvili of Georgia won Signature Drink for creativity and flavor cohesion.
Competition drew over 350 applicants across 15 countries
National qualifying rounds ran in 15 markets including Austria, Italy, Germany, China, Georgia and Croatia, narrowing more than 350 barista applicants down to 15 national champions who advanced to the Vienna final.