Walcha Coffee has secured three bronze medals at the 2026 Golden Bean World Series, adding to its growing international record.
The awards were announced at a ceremony at Noah’s on the Beach in Newcastle. Walcha Coffee took bronze in each of the three categories it entered – Filter, Espresso and Milk-Based – in what was described as one of the strongest fields in the event’s history.
The 2026 competition drew entrants from across the Americas and Asia, reflecting an unprecedented standard of quality.
“This was without question the toughest competition we have ever faced,” said Cameron Hayton, founder of Walcha Coffee Pty Ltd.
“The overall quality this year was so high that we genuinely did not expect to place at all. In previous years, when we achieved silver, everything aligned perfectly in the roast. This year, we felt we had not fully unlocked the potential of the coffees we submitted, but we were still privileged to work with outstanding producers and exceptional coffees.”
The company’s entries included Colombian coffees such as a Rose co-ferment Pink Bourbon from Campo Hermoso Coffee Farm and an April Ferment from Flora-A-Fruto.
The result follows Walcha Coffee’s two silver medals at the 2024 Golden Bean World Series in Melbourne and its Business of the Year 2025 title at the Business NSW State Awards.
“We are incredibly proud that a small regional roaster from Walcha can achieve this level of success on a worldwide stage,” Hayton said. “It shows what is possible when passion, producer relationships, and regional commitment come together.”
Walcha Coffee has been invited to attend the Australasian Golden Bean Awards in Brisbane and the Americas Golden Bean competition in Denver, Colorado. The team will also appear at the Sydney Café and Coffee Expo at Darling Harbour in May and the Seasons of New England Expo in Uralla in March.
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