International Taste Awards: Coffee Winners Announced
A diverse panel of more than 250 chefs and sommeliers recently gathered to assess coffee flavors from across the globe as part of the International Taste Institute’s (ITI) Excellence in Taste Awards. This award is, apparently, quite renowned within the food and beverage sector, touted as one of the most prestigious taste recognitions worldwide.
This year, a wide selection of coffees was honored, encompassing whole bean, ground, instant, and decaf products, as well as capsules and pods.
The judging process is rather meticulous; it’s conducted blind and in silence. Judges are unaware of which specific coffees they will taste, only knowing the generic category of the products, which is determined beforehand. There are no identifying markers on the samples. Evaluation criteria focus on five aspects: first impression, sight, smell, taste, and for food, texture, or final sensation for beverages.
According to ITI, coffees earn the Excellence in Taste Award by achieving an overall score exceeding 70%, marking them as high-quality products. Additionally, scored products receive either a 1-star, 2-star, or 3-star rating.
This year, 19 coffee varieties attained the coveted three-star rating. Many of these can be found online through specialty coffee retailers in the U.S., while others enjoy wider distribution.
Notably, two Lavazza coffees available in the U.S. received this top honor: La Reserva de Colombia and Tales of Italy Grand Canal. The former is described as a “full-bodied, balanced blend with aromatic notes of tropical fruit, lime zest, and jasmine,” according to retailers.
Tales of Italy Grand Canal features a mix of Arabica and Robusta beans, characterized by a chocolate flavor and rated 8 out of 10 for strength, according to Walmart.com, which imports this product from the UK.
In total, five Italian whole-bean brands, three from Spain, and one each from countries like South Korea, the UK, Germany, Turkey, Japan, and Taiwan all achieved three-star ratings this year.
The only ground coffee to earn a three-star award was Café San Alberto from Colombia, reflecting the high standards within this category.
In the Coffee Pods/Capsules segment, Costa Coffee Professional received three three-star awards for its various products. Interestingly, the sole instant coffee that garnered a three-star accolade was Oriental Kopi Classic White Coffee from Malaysia.
According to the ITI, a one-star rating represents quality within its category, scoring between 70% and 80%. A two-star rating signifies a standout product ranging between 80% and 90%, while a three-star rating, which signifies exceptional quality, is awarded to products scoring above 90%.
