GreatEast Cup™
Get ready for Eastern Europe’s next-gen coffee championship
GreatEast Cup™ is a celebration of future-ready talent, where instinct, speed and creativity matter just as much as technical precision.
It’s a fun, inclusive, no-fuss, all-thrill throwdown, fueled by creativity, camaraderie and pure coffee passion.
3 Days. 2 competitions. 2 Rounds each.
2 titles: The GreatEast Barista. The GreatEast Team.
No entry fees. No logistical headaches.
All essential gear provided.
Back for its 3rd edition: March 20-22, 2026!
Compete solo in Mastery Cup
Become the GreatEast Barista of 2026!
2 days. 2 rounds. 2 thrilling challenges for a future-ready barista.
Round 1. Qualifiers. March 20
THE CHALLENGE: SIGNATURE BEVERAGE
Showcase your talent and creativity by crafting a signature beverage.
An original recipe. A minimum of 3 ingredients. Featuring at least 20ml of pure liquid coffee per drink and a spirit from the following: METAXA (5*, 7*, 12*), The Botanist Gin, Mount Gay Rum, Bruichladdich / Port Charlotte / Octomore Scotch Whisky, Rémy Martin Cognac, or Cointreau Triple Sec.
Round 2. Finals. March 22
THE FIRST CHALLENGE: ESPRESSO & MILK
Show off your speed and precision in a head-to-head round of espresso brewing & latte art. Serve a complete menu of a single-shot espresso and a milk beverage. Recreate a latte art design selected by the judges.
THE SECOND CHALLENGE: SIGNATURE BEVERAGE
Recreate your signature beverage recipe under extra time pressure.
Prizes
The GreatEast Barista: €1500 cash prize.
GreatEast Skills: €500 cash prize.
GreatEast Drink: €500 cash prize.
Bonus: all finalists will get exclusive mystery boxes.
Compete as duo in Team Cup
Become the GreatEast Team of 2026!
2 days. 2 rounds. 2 thrilling challenges for you and your barista bestie.
Round 1. Qualifiers. March 21
THE CHALLENGE: LATTE ART
Creativity meets teamwork as you recreate 4 stunning latte designs under time pressure. You’ll need to switch it up – alternating between cow’s milk and plant-based one.
Round 2. Finals. March 22
THE CHALLENGE: SPEED SERVICE
You and your teammate will race against the clock to prepare 7 coffee beverages from a specialty coffee shop menu in just 8 minutes. It’s all about speed, precision and seamless teamwork!
Prizes
The GreatEast Barista: €1400 cash prize.
GreatEast Skills: €600 cash prize.
Bonus: all finalists will get exclusive mystery boxes.
The stellar line-up of judges
Alan Jarrar
Career barista | CEO at Jokes Aside Coffee Roasters & STAV SE Espresso bar
„Sometimes competitor, sometimes judge but always judging.” Alan is a coffee powerhouse with an eye for precision and a taste for perfection. Whether he’s coaching baristas or fine-tuning extractions, he’s always raising the bar.
Kaliopy Jarrar
Founder, FAINE COFFEE | Co-Founder, STAV SE Espresso Bar & Jokes Aside Coffee Roasters
With over a decade in specialty coffee, Kaliopy has built her projects through consistency, precision, and an unreasonable number of hours behind the bar. She balances leadership with daily service – by choice. Staying behind the bar keeps her standards sharp. In her world, you can’t judge coffee if you no longer make it.
Sam Cooper
Head of Coffee, Bold Street Coffee | Coffee Professional & Operator
Sam brings a global perspective shaped by time spent on coffee farms across Central America and hands-on experience building projects in Guatemala. Now leading coffee operations across nine sites in the north of England, he focuses on quality, consistency, and hospitality at scale.
Davide Orazi
New York Coffee Masters Champion | Project & Community Manager, WatchHous | Coffee Masters Judge
A competitor, judge, and coffee operations expert, Davide brings nearly a decade of specialty coffee experience. Committed to excellence in every aspect of the coffee journey, he combines deep technical knowledge with a commitment to fostering community within the specialty coffee scene.
Manos Mamakis
Two-Time WCIGS Runner-Up & Hellenic Aeropress Champion 2018
Master roaster, mixologist, trainer – Manos does it all.
An all-around coffee powerhouse, he’s shaping the next wave of pros while setting the bar sky-high.
Luca “Luchino” Bruni
Bartender & Creative Mixologist | DIAGEO World Class Global Top 5 Finalist
From Tiki to aperitivo to the refined philosophy of “less is more,” Luchino has explored the full spectrum of mixology, always searching for a personal voice in the glass. For him, a drink isn’t just flavor – it’s memory, imagination, reflection.
Teodora Pitiș
Founder, Sloane Coffee | Q-Grader | 2025 Romanian Brewers Cup Champion
Teodora combines technical precision with a deeply refined sensory approach. Continuously pushing her craft forward, she represents a generation of coffee professionals who balance discipline, curiosity, and high standards – both on the competition stage and in everyday service.
Marius Nica
Head Roaster & Co-Founder, Olivo Coffee Culture | National Champion
Active in specialty coffee since 2012, Marius is a multi-time national champion in Latte Art and Cup Tasters – and the current Romanian National Roasting Champion. As Head Roaster and Co-Founder of Olivo Coffee Culture in Cluj-Napoca, he combines competition experience with deep sensory expertise.
Lavinia Toma
World Brewers Cup Competitor | World Barista Championship Semi-Finalist | Certified Q-Grader
Competition has always been Lavinia’s driving force. With over a decade in coffee and hospitality – and certified as a Q-Grader – Lavinia brings precision, discipline, and a deep respect for craft. For her, coffee is not just performance, but community: passionate, supportive, and always striving for more.
Miruna Tudose
Origo Coffee | Sensory Expert & World Class Romania Bartender of the Year 2024
Top 8 at London Coffee Masters. World Class Romania Champion. Chef-turned-barista. Miruna blends culinary creativity with coffee craftsmanship & mixology, crafting unforgettable flavor experiences.
Claudiu Szabo
Award-Winning Mixologist | DIAGEO World Class Global Top 10 Finalist
Claudiu Szabo is one of Romania’s most recognized bar professionals, known for modern cocktail design and multisensory hospitality experiences. In 2025, he became the first Romanian bartender to reach the DIAGEO World Class Global Top 10. With over a decade of experience, Claudiu continues to push creative boundaries while raising the standards of what a bar experience can be.