Italian Espresso Champion 2026: Three out of Five Competitors Represent Caffè Milani

Five baristas, five different paths, one single goal: to prepare the perfect espresso and cappuccino. On Friday, November 6, in Turin, the Espresso Italiano Champion 2026 international finals took place. Three of the five finalists chose Caffé Milani, and Matteo Colzani brought our Gran Aroma blend to the second step of the podium.

Espresso Italiano Champion is the international competition promoted by the Istituto Espresso Italiano to promote the professionalism of baristas and the culture of quality Italian espresso. The final is reached through national and international selections, and before the jury each competitor prepares espresso and cappuccino according to precise profiles: extraction technique counts, but so do precision, tasting sensitivity, and mastery of service.

This year, at the final table, Caffé Milani was present three times:

• Italy: Matteo Colzani, with Gran Aroma
• Japan: Yanakita Takuya, with the Bar blend
• South Korea: Kim Gyu Wan, with Gran Aroma

Three baristas from three different countries, with different schools and sensibilities, who chose the same coffee to express in the cup their idea of Italian espresso.

For Matteo, the road to Turin began in Lipomo. In May, at the Caffé Milani headquarters, the internal selection took place that led him to represent our roasting house at the national final in Faenza, which he won in June. As the Italian champion, on November 6 he competed against the best baristas selected worldwide, winning second place, which for Caffé Milani represents a milestone never reached before. The 2026 title went to Slovenian Nei Pavletič.

Preparing for an Espresso Italiano Champion final means working on every detail: the dose, the grind, the extraction times, the milk steaming. These are the same details that, every day, make the difference behind the counter. This is why we are proud that so many professionals choose Caffé Milani to test themselves.

Congratulations to Matteo, Takuya, and Kim Gyu Wan for their journey. And see you at the next edition: this second place leaves us dreaming!