Teodora Atanasova to represent Bulgaria at the Vergnano World Cup 2026 Global Final

The national final in Sofia selected Bulgaria’s representative for the international barista competition in Turin

A the end of September, the Bulgarian final of the Vergnano World Cup 2026, Caffè Vergnano’s international barista competition, took place at the Coca-Cola HBC's Bulgaria Coffee Training Center in Sofia. The event brought together talented baristas and coffee industry professionals united by their passion for coffee and their commitment to advancing coffee culture.

The Vergnano World Cup gives professionals  an opportunity to showcase their knowledge, technique, creativity, and individual approach to preparing and presenting coffee. The Bulgarian competition  unfolded over two rounds, each testing participants through a different set of professional and creative challenges. In the first round, “Signature & Classic Beverage Presentation,” the baristas presented signature drinks and classic coffee beverages, demonstrating precision, technical skills, and their own distinctive style. The top-performing participants advanced to the final round, the “Signature Espresso Martini Challenge,” where they were tasked with creating their own interpretation of the Espresso Martini, combining their coffee expertise with creativity and a professional approach.

Following the two rounds, Teodora Atanasova was announced as the Bulgarian winner of the Caffè Vergnano World Cup 2026. Enez Mustafa finished in second place, Emre Kadirov took third, and Ognyan Ognyanov placed fourth.

The winner earned the opportunity to represent Bulgaria at the international final in Turin, Italy, where she will compete against national champions from the other participating countries. The international jury includes representatives of the Vergnano family, coffee experts from Coca-Cola HBC, and internationally recognised coffee champions. The grand prize for the winner of the international final is a trip to a coffee plantation, offering the opportunity to gain first-hand insight into the origins of coffee and follow its journey from plantation to cup.

Through the Vergnano World Cup, Caffè Vergnano provides a platform for coffee industry professionals to connect and exchange experience, while giving baristas a stage on which to showcase their skills and ideas to a broader professional community. The competition encourages knowledge sharing, professional development, and the advancement of coffee culture at both local and international level.