Time to spill: The 2026 Good Food Awards coffee finalists are here, and they’re rewriting the rules of origin storytelling. With 25 single-origin entries from 20 U.S. roasters, this year’s crop leans heavily on Ethiopia and Colombia, but don’t sleep on Costa Rica, Panama, Rwanda, or El Salvador. These aren’t just beans—they’re narratives, each one tied to soil, altitude, and the roasters’ obsession with transparency. The Good Food Foundation’s criteria? No shortcuts. Roasters must prove their sourcing practices, highlight processing methods like thermal shock or anaerobic honey, and balance flavor with ethical intent.
The judging process is as rigorous as it is revealing. First round: Bay Area evaluators test brews at home, then the public votes. Second round? Pros cupping, dissecting acidity, body, and aroma with clinical precision. This year’s update? A clearer line between seasonal and year-round offerings, pushing roasters to deliver “market-ready” profiles. The result? A list that feels less like a competition and more like a masterclass in coffee craftsmanship.
Standouts include Gesha’s dominance, with entries from Oregon’s Mikava and California’s Linea Caffe, and the rise of Pink Bourbon, Pacamara, and SL-28 as flavor flags. Processing methods now double as marketing hooks—terms like “carbonic maceration” or “natural process” aren’t just jargon; they’re promises of complexity. Even blends have a story, like Boxcar Coffee Roasters’ Ethiopia Chelbesa Danche Yellow Honey, which marries terroir with technique.
Key points: The finalists prioritize origin transparency, blending ethical sourcing with flavor innovation. Processing methods like anaerobic honey and thermal shock are no longer niche—they’re conversation starters. And while Ethiopia and Colombia dominate, the diversity of regions and techniques proves coffee’s global soul.
Close: What’s your favorite coffee region, and how do you think processing methods shape the final cup.
Close: What’s your favorite coffee region, and how do you think processing methods shape the final cup? Drop your take in the comments.
Questions & Answers
Who are the 2026 Good Food Awards coffee finalists?
Twenty U.S. roasters made the 2026 Good Food Awards coffee finalist list, recognized for quality and innovation in specialty coffee.
How are Good Food Awards coffee finalists selected?
Finalists are chosen based on coffee quality, craftsmanship, and impact, evaluated by a panel of industry experts and judges.
Information sourced from industry reports and news outlets.
