Photo courtesy of VN Express

Le Quang Cuong has become the first Vietnamese champion at the World Cup Tasters Championship, triumphing over 45 global contestants in the 2026 event held in Bangkok, Thailand. This historic achievement took place at the World of Coffee Bangkok 2026, a significant event for Vietnam’s burgeoning specialty coffee industry.

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The competition, managed by the Specialty Coffee Association from May 7 to 9 at the Bangkok International Trade and Exhibition Center, marked the first Southeast Asian venue for this prestigious tournament. Known as one of the most challenging sensory competitions in the coffee world, the championship requires participants to quickly identify one different coffee among three cups using their sensory skills.

Each contestant was tasked with completing the challenge within an eight-minute limit, with rankings based on accuracy and speed. Cuong excelled in the finals, identifying seven out of eight cups correctly in just 3.35 minutes, surpassing competitors including Catherine Queiroz from Switzerland, Mehmet Sogan from the U.S., and Mizuki Tagami from Japan.

Reflecting on the experience, Cuong noted the intense pressure and the "traps" set by organizers, acknowledging how subtle aroma differences could easily lead to errors. He stressed the importance of intensive training to maintain a sharp sensory edge, as repeated exposure could neutralize olfactory perceptions.

Cuong's victory, following his success at the Vietnam Cup Tasters Championship in April, is seen as a significant achievement for Vietnam’s coffee sector, highlighting the country's rapid adaptation and growth in specialty coffee production and expertise.

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  Adapted by ASEAN Now · VN Express · 12 May 2026

Oh, I thought this was going to be about the best coffee in the world rather than coffee taster. Not meaning to deride it of course, I won a wine tasting event many years ago. My title was "Best Guesser"... 😂🍷

Edited May 13May 13 by Watawattana

42 minutes ago, Watawattana said:

Oh, I thought this was going to be about the best coffee in the world rather than coffee taster. Not meaning to deride it of course, I won a wine tasting event many years ago. My title was "Best Guesser"... 😂🍷

Agree.

Raimonds Tomsons from Latvia is recognized as the best sommelier (one who manages a restaurant's wine list, pairs wines with food in the world), having won the ASI Best Sommelier of the World 2023 title. He isn't the best world wine producer.