Global Coffee Awards announce the best roasters in Africa
Estimated reading time: 9 minutes
Key takeaways
- The Global Coffee Awards (GCA) recognise the world’s best roasters and the producers who grow their coffees.
- The Africa edition was held on 16 June 2026.
- Galani Coffee from Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, was crowned the overall winner of the Africa edition.
- The top-scoring coffee was a washed Limu heirloom variety from Galani Coffee in the Espresso Single Origin category. The coffee was produced by Moplaco Trading Co. in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.
- All Gold, Silver, and Bronze category winners are invited to compete in the 2026 GCA World Championship.
The Africa edition of the Global Coffee Awards (GCA) took place on 16 June 2026. Roasters from across the continent submitted their most exceptional coffees across multiple categories and subcategories.
Every sample underwent a double-blind assessment by a head judge and at least three additional judges. Each judge holds a Q-grader certification and has experience at high-level competitions, including the World Barista Championship and Cup of Excellence. Before the competition began, an expert panel interviewed and selected all participating judges.
Judges scored each entry against an objective set of criteria and provided specific, practical feedback to every entrant, allowing them to refine their roast profiles and strengthen future submissions.
Read on to find out who took the top spots in Africa and to learn about future GCA competitions in 2026.
Learn more about the GCA here.
Awarding excellence in Africa’s growing specialty coffee markets
GCA is structured around regional competitions. Roasters of all sizes, from small-batch independents to large-scale national brands, are invited to submit their most exceptional coffees across defined categories.
“The GCA set a high standard for roasting across the world, including in emerging markets like Africa, where roasters are incredibly creative and driving consumption of quality homegrown coffee,” says Mark Zhou, founder of MTPak Coffee, a leading global supplier of custom-printed coffee packaging and the Global Coffee Awards Gold Sponsor.
“Our focus is on coffee packaging that stands out, so we chose one roaster from each competition whose designs showed the most original and considered approach.”
After successful editions in the US & Canada, Europe, and Origin Roasted countries (any coffee-producing country) in 2025, the GCA expanded into Africa this year.
“Countries like Kenya, Ethiopia, and Nigeria are seeing steady growth in the consumption of quality coffee,” says Emi Rueda, Sales and Relationship Manager at the Global Coffee Awards. “Specialty coffee roasters in Africa are incredibly passionate, and their enthusiasm is driving the market. We want to recognise and reward their achievements.”
Originally scheduled for Dubai, the competition was hosted at Balzac Brothers.
“The GCA gives roasters a rare opportunity for honest market validation,” says Niklas Ivarsson, President of GCA Water Sponsor Bluewater Group. “The competition is judged through blind cupping, and all samples are repackaged into neutral bags so they look identical.
“This means the coffee is evaluated on the cup itself, not the brand, the packaging, the reputation, or the story around it.”
How are coffees judged at the GCA?
All judging follows a strict double-blind protocol. No identifying information is shared with anyone involved, including the Sensory Judges and the barista team preparing the samples.
The panel includes a Head Judge, a certified Lead Sensory Judge, certified Q-grader Sensory Judges, a Head Barista, and a supporting barista team. Every sample is assessed by three judges and a Head Judge.
Before judging starts, every judge completes a one-day calibration session to align on scoring categories and criteria.
Every submission receives written feedback based on defined assessment protocols. Entries are scored solely on sensory quality, giving roasters specific, practical guidance on their roasting and where they can improve.
The Africa categories were Filter, Espresso, Flat White Dairy, and Flat White Plant-Based Milk. Each category included several subcategories, such as Single Origin and Experimental.
Equipment Partner Hiroia provided Hikaru automated pour over systems and Jimmy Scales. Equipment Partner GH Grinding + Brewing Solutions provided specifically modified Bentwood Vertical 75 grinders. Water purification and remineralisation systems were provided by Water Sponsor Bluewater Group.
Each category had its own separate objective scoring system. All judges used a judging form to assign a numerical score across multiple criteria, including aroma, flavour, aftertaste, acidity, body, balance, sweetness, and mouthfeel. You can find detailed information about the judging criteria here.
The winners of the 2026 Global Coffee Awards Africa
The winners of the 2026 GCA Africa edition are:
Overall winner: Galani Coffee
Category winners:
- Filter – Galani Coffee
- Espresso – Galani Coffee
- Flat White Dairy – Galani Coffee
- Flat White Plant-Based Milk – Spring Valley Coffee from Nairobi, Kenya
Here are the gold winners of each sub-category (roaster and producer, exporter, or co-operative):
Filter
- Natural – Sundried Guji Heirloom from Galani Coffee and Moplaco Trading Co.
- Single origin – Sundried Yirgachefe Gerse Heirloom from Galani Coffee and Moplaco Trading Co.
- Single origin experimental – Sundried Sidamo Anaerobic Fermentation Heirloom from Galani Coffee and Moplaco Trading Co.
- Washed – Fully washed Limu Heirloom from Galani Coffee and Moplaco Trading Co.
Espresso
- Blend – Solar Veil Heirloom from Galani Coffee and Moplaco Trading Co.
- Single origin – Fully washed Limu Heirloom from Galani Coffee and Moplaco Trading Co.
- Single origin experimental – Sundried Sheka Heirloom from Galani Coffee and Moplaco Trading Co.
“We’re honoured to have submitted the highest-scoring coffee at the GCA Africa edition,” says Heleanna Georgalis, President at Galani Coffee. “As an Ethiopian company, we strive to not only have the most exceptional coffee in Africa, but internationally. It’s ambitious, but African roasters can achieve this level of success.”
Flat White Dairy
- Blend – Bugolobi Blend from Brothers Coffee Roastery from Western Cape, South Africa
- Experimental – Rui Ruiru SL28, SL 34, Batian, K7, Ruiru 11 from Spring Valley Coffee and Rui Ruiru Coffee Factory in Nyeri, Kenya
- Single origin – Electric Sun Washed Guji from Galani Coffee and Moplaco Trading Co.
Flat White Plant-Based Milk
- Experimental – Rui Ruiru SL28, SL 34, Batian, K7, Ruiru 11 from Spring Valley Coffee and Rui Ruiru Coffee Factory
- Single origin – Abakunda Kawa (ABK) Bourbon from Question Coffee from Kigali, Rwanda and ABK Cooperative in northern Rwanda
MTPak Packaging Award winner: Kaldi Coffee in Lagos, Nigeria
All participating roasters received detailed feedback forms for each sample submitted. For instance, for an entry in the Filter Single Origin Experimental subcategory (an Ethiopian coffee), the judges recommended a slightly gentler approach, with a lower end temperature and lighter overall development, to help reveal more of the coffee’s tropical fruit character while enhancing sweetness.
Roasters also received digital Certificates of Achievement and Global Coffee Awards seals in Gold, Silver, and Bronze. These are distinctive marks of excellence that they can display on their packaging, marketing materials, websites, social media channels, and menus.
You can find all the GCA Africa category and subcategory winners here.
Upcoming Global Coffee Awards editions
The full 2026 GCA schedule includes:
- US & Canada: Judging will take place at Copan Trade in Houston, Texas, US. The entry kit is here, and all samples must be received by 5 August 2026.
- Latin America & Caribbean: Judging will take place at Copan Trade. The entry kit is here (available in English and Spanish), and all samples must be received by 3 August 2026.
- Europe: Judging will take place at Belco in Bordeaux, France. The entry kit is here, and all samples must be received by 21 October 2026.
The GCA Asia edition was held on 17 June 2026, and the winners will be announced on 14 July.
For roasters based in coffee-producing countries, there will be a separate Origin Roasted category. This means that if roasters are located in a producing country, such as Nicaragua, Panama and Ecuador, and submit a coffee grown in their home nation, they receive automatic, free entry into the Origin Roasted category.
The 2026 GCA will be the biggest edition of the competition, with more roasters entering from more countries than in any previous year.
The international competition circuit serves two purposes: identifying the strongest roasters within each region, and bringing them together in the World Championship to compete for the title of World’s Best Roaster.
Contact info@globalcoffeeawards.com and the GCA Sales and Relationship Manager, Emi Rueda, via WhatsApp here for more information.
Global Coffee Awards FAQs
What are the Global Coffee Awards?
The Global Coffee Awards, or GCA, is an international competition that recognises the world’s best roasters and the producers behind their coffees. It runs regional editions, including MENA, Africa, Europe, the US & Canada, and Latin America, and judges every entry through double-blind tastings led by certified Q-graders.
How does the GCA judge each coffee entry?
Judges follow a strict double-blind protocol, so no brand or packaging details reach them. A Head Judge and at least three certified Q-graders score every sample on aroma, flavour, acidity, body, and balance.
What’s next for the Global Coffee Awards in 2026?
Three editions remain: US & Canada and Latin America & Caribbean, both judged at Copan Trade, and Europe, judged at Belco in Bordeaux. Asia’s results, from judging held on 17 June, will be announced on 14 July.
Apply to compete in the GCA here.
Photo credits: Global Coffee Awards, Galani Coffee, Spring Valley Coffee, Brothers Coffee Roastery, Question Coffee
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