Moldova has won the global final of the Julius Meinl Barista Cup 2026, with 20-year-old Elizaveta Rimskaia taking first place after competing against top baristas from 14 other countries.
Rimskaia, who works as a barista at a pastry shop in Chisinau, secured her place in the global final after winning Moldova’s national competition on July 4.
The international final was held in Vienna, where participants faced three demanding challenges: Espresso, Cappuccino and Signature Drink.
In the Espresso category, competitors were assessed on both presentation and taste, with the judges focusing on achieving a precise extraction. The jury also evaluated the crema, an important indicator of espresso quality.
The Cappuccino challenge focused on the visual presentation of latte art as well as the overall taste experience.
For the Signature Drink challenge, contestants had to create a visually appealing and flavorful coffee- or tea-based drink that demonstrated their creativity and technical skills.
Rimskaia excelled across all three challenges, securing the overall victory for Moldova.
The young barista spent six months preparing for the competition.
As the winner, Rimskaia will receive an exclusive trip to India, where she will visit the coffee-growing regions of Kerala and Karnataka. The trip will give her the opportunity to explore Robusta coffee plantations and learn more about the origins of Julius Meinl coffee.
This is not the first international success for a Moldovan representative at the competition. In 2024, another Moldovan barista, Vladimir Chzou, won first place in the individual Espresso category.