The world’s most demanding coffee sensory championship.
May 29-30, 2026 - Hotel W, Barcelona
Open de Cata 2026
- Accuracy
- Memory
- Excellence
The world’s most demanding coffee sensory championship.
May 29-30, 2026 Hotel W, Barcelona
Open de Cata 2026
- Accuracy
- Memory
- Excellence
The final of the Cata Open 2026
The ultimate challenge for the world's best tasters
In 2026, the Open de Cata will hold its final edition on May 29 and 30 at the W Hotel in Barcelona, an emblematic venue that reinforces the international, exclusive and professional character of the championship.
This edition promises to be unforgettable, with an even higher competitive level, an expanded selection of coffees of origin and a total prize money of 25,000 €, consolidating the Open de Cata as one of the most prestigious, demanding and recognized tasting championships worldwide.
15.000€
1st place
5.000€
2nd place
3.000€
3rd place
2.000€
4th place
Will you be the next champion?
Cup, compete, connect. Experience the unique Open de Cata experience.
Will you be the next champion?
Cup, compete, connect. Experience the unique Open de Cata experience.
What is the Open de Cata?
A sensory precision championship.
Sensory memory
Sensory memory
15 min – 6 Coffees – 3 origins
– Objective: memorize profiles with the information visible.
Participants have 15 minutes to cup 6 coffees from 3 different origins (South America, Central America, and Africa). During this time, they have access to information about the country of origin, farm or washing station, variety, and process. Their task is to taste the coffees and try to memorize the unique characteristics of each lot.
– Objective: place the cup according to your memory + notes.
Once the evaluation phase is over and with notes taken, participants face a second cupping—this time, blind. They will cup the same 6 coffees again, with no information visible, and place each cup in the corresponding position based on their sensory memories and previous notes. The key is precision: the better they have memorized the profiles, the more accurate their choice will be.
The 12 cuppers with the highest number of correct matches advance to the next stage of the championship
Semifinal - Accuracy and Speed
Semifinal - Accuracy and Speed
15 min – 6 coffees – 2 origins
– Objective:memorize and place the coffees correctly
This phase follows the same protocol as the qualification round, but with an added difficulty: the 6 coffees come from only two countries different, requiring greater attention to nuance. Participants will have 15 minutes to freely taste the coffees (prepared in filters and served in thermoses), identify their characteristics and take detailed notes.
Next, rounds of 4 persons. Each group will taste the same 6 coffeesThis time without visible information, and you will have to place them correctly according to their Flavour and previous notes.
– Objective: identify the different cup in each triangle test.
This event follows the format of the World Cup Tasters Championshipwith one key difference: the participants have only 6 minutes to solve 6 triangulations.
There are three cups in each set: two contain the same Coffee. and one is different. The goal is to identify the distinct cup in each triangle and separate it from the rest.
The results of both tests (Sensory Memory + Triangulation) are added together. In case of a tie, the shortest total time is prioritized.
The 8 participants with the best overall score advance to the Final.
Single origin, maximum challenge.
Single origin, maximum challenge.
The Grand Finalof the Open de Cata represents the most accurate sensory challenge of the entire championship. Only the The top 8 cuppers make it this far.
6 coffees – 1 origin
– Objective:memorize and place the coffees correctly
The test follows the same protocol as the semi-final phase, but this time all the coffees come from a single country. There are 6 different coffees elaborated with different Varieties and Processes, which forces the finalists to distinguish with absolute precision between extremely close profiles.
For each correct guess, one point is awarded. In case of a tie, the winner is ranked by the shortest time. The taster with the most correct guesses in the shortest time becomes the winner of the Mare Terras Coffee Tasting Open 2026.
Pre-Opens 2025
The road to Open de Cata 2026
In2025Mare Terra Coffee launchesthe Pre-Opensa series of international competitions that serve as the official prelude to the Open de Cata 2026.
Held between June 2025 and April 2026 in different cities around the world, the Pre-Opens allow international tasters to measure themselves against the best, calibrate to measure themselves against the best, calibrate themselves, improve their skills and taste coffees at the Open de Cata level..
The winners of each Pre-Open will obtain direct access to the 2026 Open de Cataas well as flights to Barcelona and accommodation for the final.
Take part in the Pre-Opens and secure your spot at Open de Cata 2026.
Do you want to organize a Pre-Open in your country?
Help us to take this international experience to new destinations.
Do you want to organize a Pre-Open in your country?
Help us to take this international experience to new destinations.
Previous editions
Relive the moments, emotions and talent that marked each year.
Sponsors of the Open de Cata
We greatly appreciate the support of our sponsors for the 2024 edition of the Open de Cata. Thanks to their contribution, the event was possible and reached an international level of excellence.
