The world’s most demanding coffee sensory championship.
Final held on May 29–30, 2026
Open de Cata 2026
- Accuracy
- Memory
- Excellence
The world’s most demanding coffee sensory championship.
A historic edition held in Barcelona
Open de Cata 2026
- Accuracy
- Memory
- Excellence
The final of Open de Cata 2026
A historic edition held in Barcelona
In 2026, the Open de Cata held its final on May 29 and 30 at the W Hotel in Barcelona, bringing together international cuppers in an edition marked by talent, precision, and a high competitive level.
The edition featured an expanded selection of origin coffees and a total prize fund of €25,000, consolidating the Open de Cata as one of the most demanding and internationally recognized coffee sensory championships.
Tras esta edición, el campeonato hará una pausa y volverá en 2028 con una nueva convocatoria internacional.
25.000€
Awards presented
46
Participants
22
Nationalities
2028
Next Edition
Open de Cata 2026 winners
An edition marked by precision, talent, and the high level of its finalists.
The 2026 podium brings together the four cuppers who stood out in a demanding, international final of the highest sensory standard.
Max Mak
1st place
15,000€
Zbyněk Vojtěšek
2nd place
5,000€
Frankie Shi
3rd place
3,000€
Shaun Nam
4th place
2,000€
Will you be the next champion?
Cup, compete, connect. Experience the unique Open de Cata experience.
Coffees from the 2026 Open de Cata
A selection of coffees that were part of the championship tests, designed to challenge participants’ sensory memory, precision, and triangulation skills.
-
Uhuru
Kenya - Embu- Washed - fermented
- 87.25 points
- SL 28 and SL 34
- Floral
-
Tumaini
Kenya - Kirinyaga- Washed - fermented
- 87.75 points
- SL 28 and SL 34
- Floral
-
Furaha
Kenya - Nyeri- Washed - fermented
- 88.00 points
- Fruity
-
Propus AMO
Colombia - HuilaIn warehouse - Spain- Washed - fermented
- 87.50 points
- Cenicafe 1
- Fruity
- 1,800 m.a.s.l.
-
Asumare
Peru - CajamarcaIn warehouse - Spain- Washed - fermented
- 88.00 points
- Typica
- Floral
- 1,923 m.a.s.l.
-
Pucha
Peru - CajamarcaIn warehouse - Spain- Washed - fermented
- 87.50 points
- Bourbon
- Fruity
- 1,670 m.a.s.l.
-
Chamba
Peru - CajamarcaIn warehouse - Spain- Washed - fermented
- 87.25 points
- Caturra
- Fruity
- 2,130 m.a.s.l.
What is the Open de Cata?
A sensory precision championship.
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 Final of 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-Open de Cata
The road to Open de Cata 2026
Mare Terra Coffee promoted the Pre-Open de Cata, a series of international competitions that served as the official prelude to the 2026 Open de Cata.
Held between June 2025 and April 2026 in different cities around the world, the Pre-Open de Cata events allowed international cuppers to compete against the best, calibrate themselves, improve their skills and cup coffees at the level of the Open de Cata.
The winners of each Pre-Open de Cata gained direct access to the 2026 Open de Cata, as well as flights to Barcelona and accommodation to take part in the final.
Pre-Open de Cata held
Do you want to organize a Pre-Open de Cata 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.
Sponsor of Open de Cata
