A decade after moving to Scotland from El Salvador, Jonathan Martinez has claimed the title of UK’s best coffee roaster.
Martinez competed against top roasters from across the UK at this year’s Glasgow Coffee Festival, where the finalists were required to roast an identical coffee to their own specifications, as well as submit a sourced coffee representing their brand’s style, judged through a blind, peer-assessed cupping.
The 37-year-old, originally from Ahuachapán in north-west El Salvador — a major coffee-producing region — moved to Glasgow after meeting his now wife, Nuala.
Homesick, unemployed and with no roasting experience, Jonathan began looking for work. Nuala, who worked at The Ubiquitous Chip, approached their coffee supplier, Thomson’s Coffee, to ask if any roles were available.
After a visit to the roastery, Jonathan took an entry-level position, packing and using his background in electronics to help with odd jobs.
He is now Thomson’s head roaster, and the couple live in Maryhill with their three children, who are six, eight and 17 months old.
Recalling his journey to this new life, Jonathan said: “To be honest, moving to another country never crossed my mind. But that’s what love does to you, right?
“I was feeling homesick and coffee felt like a link to my culture and my people. I grew up around coffee farms where we could walk freely and pick fruit from the trees.
“My godfather Emanuel is a small coffee producer, and during school holidays I worked picking coffee to earn some money. I remember looking up steep hills knowing I’d have to carry heavy bags of cherries to the top.”
Now in Glasgow with the responsibilities of being a dad-of-three and a head roaster, Jonathan is also studying for an electronics degree alongside his award-winning work with Thomson’s Coffee.
“Glasgow has given me a home, and I’m absolutely thrilled to bring this prize to the city,” he said.
“The calibre of competitors was outstanding. Glasgow Coffee Festival creates the perfect environment for coffee professionals to grow and showcase the dedication that goes into every cup.
“I’m proud of the coffee scene here with so many amazing cafés, outstanding roasteries and a real sense of community. People genuinely support each other.”
This year’s Glasgow Coffee Festival at The Briggait was its biggest yet, with 52 exhibitors, almost 3000 tickets sold, a waiting list of more than 1500, and visitors travelling from across the world for the event.
Lisa Lawson, founder of both the Glasgow Coffee Festival and Dear Green Coffee Roasters, said: “We say it every year, but this was our biggest yet.
“Opening a second hall allowed us to do more than ever before, and demand continues to grow.
“This was a true celebration of a passionate and thriving coffee community, and I’m incredibly proud to be part of it.”
New additions to this year’s festival included the Best Roaster UK competition, the SCA UK Brewers Cup Championship and the Best Coffee Shops UK Awards.
The UK’s best coffee shops were selected by a panel and announced at the festival. Winners included Scottish favourites such as Birch, Ottoman Coffehouse, Zennor and Cairngorm Coffee, among others.
All winners are now in the running for Europe’s 100 Best Coffee Shops, set to be announced in Brussels later this year.
The Brewers Cup — run by the Specialty Coffee Association — was won by Andrew Wong, who will now represent the UK at the World Coffee Championships at World of Coffee in Brussels in June 2026.
Reflecting on that win, Wong said: “I still find it hard to believe, especially considering the talent this year.
“I’m proud to represent Scotland, where I developed my craft and will give everything on the world stage.
“Glasgow Coffee Festival is a brilliant opportunity for professionals to come together and connect.”
As a not-for-profit event, Glasgow Coffee Festival will donate more than £3000 to charities, including Bike for Good, Kwetu Coffee, Change Please and Glasgow Children’s Hospital Charity.
The 2026 event’s headline partners included leading espresso machine manufacturers, La Marzocco, pioneering Scottish dairy, Mossgiel Organic Farm, and award winning specialty roasters, Dear Green.
