2026 PCA Australia Cup Tasters Championship sees record participation – BeanScene

The 2026 PCA Australia Cup Tasters Championship has officially concluded for this year, with Nophadon Kantaros taking the top prize.

Held on Sunday 7 June, Nophadon Kantaros successfully identified seven cups with a time of five minutes and 18 seconds, followed by Tomoyo Tada, also with seven cups in 6’15, and Sangmin Ju with six cups in 5’39.

PCA Australia says interest in this year’s championship exceeded all expectations and was one of the strongest and most competitive events, delivering record-breaking participation, exceptional competition standards, and significant industry engagement across the Australian specialty coffee community.

The competitor lineup included national champions, championship finalists, and a World Cup Tasters Championship podium finisher, bringing together some of the region’s most accomplished sensory professionals and coffee talents.

“When registration opened, all 32 competitor positions sold out within just 15 minutes. Due to overwhelming demand, an additional 8 competitor places were released and subsequently sold out within 30 minutes,” says PCA Australia.

Spectator interest was also strong, with all 50 audience tickets fully booked prior to the event.

“The overwhelming response to this year’s championship reflects the growing enthusiasm for sensory competitions within the Australian coffee community. We are proud to see competitors, judges, sponsors, volunteers, and coffee lovers come together to celebrate excellence, education, and connection through coffee,” says the PCA Australia team.

“As PCA Australia continues to grow, our goal remains the same: to create a professional platform that supports talent development, industry collaboration, and meaningful opportunities for the specialty coffee community.”