From a country that “makes” coffee to a country that “savors” it—a symbolic feat was born. Vietnam’sLe Quang Cuongtook the world championship of taste, the World Cup Tasters Championship, withthe first-ever victory by a Vietnamese. In a competition of picking out the one cup that tastes different from three lined up, he answered all 8 questions correctly in just under 8 minutes—showing the world Vietnam’s “power to savor,” not just its production volume.
All 8 questions correct on taste alone
The World Cup Tasters Championship is a competition of spotting, from lined-up cups, the one that’s subtly different—using taste and smell alone. It demands both accuracy and speed. Le Quang Cuong answered every question correctly within the limited time to reach the top. It’s the first-ever crown for a Vietnamese.
| Item | Details |
|---|---|
| Competition | World Cup Tasters Championship |
| Result | First-ever victory by a Vietnamese (all 8 questions correct) |
| Format | Distinguishing the one different cup from three by taste and smell |
The production giant’s “next stage”
Vietnam is one of the world’s leading coffee producers, but until now its reputation has tended to lean toward “quantity.” The birth of a world champion of taste means it has reached world standards in the realm of quality and evaluation, not just production. It’s an event in step with the ongoing shift from a Robusta focus toward specialty.
Background: Vietnam’s growing presence
Buon Ma Thuot’s selection by National Geographic, results at various competitions, specialty appeals at overseas trade fairs like Berlin—Vietnamese coffee has been raising its profile on the world stage in recent years. A world champion of evaluation adds the symbol of a “person” to that trend. It is steadily advancing toward being a country that can handle everything from production to evaluation itself.
Impact on readers
The story of “coffee from the country that produced the world’s top taster” adds one more reason to choose Vietnamese coffee. The resolution of a trip to visit origins and learn flavors rises too. Build cupping and tasting experiences into your itinerary and the depth of a single cup changes.
Summary
All 8 questions correct in just under 8 minutes—Le Quang Cuong’s feat symbolizes Vietnamese coffee’s advance from “a country of quantity” to “a country of quality.” What the world watches next is the taste itself.
Related reading:
・Buon Ma Thuot named among National Geographic’s 15 best foods in the world
・Vietnam Amazing Cup 2026, with 182 lots participating
・Vietnamese coffee at Berlin’s Kaffee Campus 2026
Source:Sprudge
