The Open De Cata 2026, a demanding coffee sensory championship, held its final in Barcelona, Spain on May 30 (Beijing time).

Max Mak, a barista from Zhongshan, clinched the global champion title with a flawless run — six cups all correct in just 1 minute 45 seconds, marking a new milestone for Chinese competitors at this top-tier international cup-tasting event.

The victory earned Mak a €15,000 prize, the largest purse in global cup-tasting competition to date.

Fellow Chinese competitor Yang Zhihao also delivered a steady performance and advanced to the top eight.