Cuong’s victory has drawn significant attention from the international specialty coffee community as this year’s tournament was held in Bangkok as part of World of Coffee Bangkok 2026.

The 2026 World Cup Tasters Championship was held from May 7 to 9 at the Bangkok International Trade and Exhibition Centre (BITEC), bringing together 46 competitors from around the world.

Organised by the Specialty Coffee Association (SCA), the competition is regarded as the highest-level test of coffee sensory skills. Contestants must identify the odd cup out from a set of three coffees under intense time pressure.

In each round, competitors are presented with three cups of coffee, two of which are identical while one differs slightly in flavour profile. Participants rely on their sense of smell, taste and sensory experience to identify the different cup as quickly and accurately as possible.

After advancing through the preliminary round, quarter-finals and semi-finals, four finalists remained in contention for the title. Cuong outperformed all rivals with exceptional speed, precision and concentration, ultimately securing the championship.

The achievement is considered a major milestone for Vietnam’s specialty coffee industry, which has grown rapidly in recent years as Vietnamese coffee professionals, roasteries and cafés gain greater international recognition.

The official World Coffee Championships platform had earlier introduced Le Quang Cuong as Vietnam’s representative at this year’s event after he won the inaugural Vietnam Cup Tasters Championship 2026 held in Ho Chi Minh City in April.

Finishing behind the Vietnamese champion were Catherine Queiroz of Switzerland, Mehmet Sogan of the United States and Mizuki Tagami of Japan.

In recent years, Vietnam’s specialty coffee scene has expanded significantly, with more cafés, roasteries and baristas adopting international standards. Beyond its long-standing reputation as a major robusta producer, Vietnam is increasingly gaining attention for high-quality specialty coffees and a growing generation of highly skilled coffee professionals.

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