|
|
|
You can get e-magazine links on WhatsApp. Click here
|
|
|
|
|
|
Champions emerge at Singapore National Coffee Championship
|
|
Saturday, 25 July, 2026, 08 : 00 AM [IST]
|
|
Singapore
|
Four of Singapore’s leading coffee talents were crowned national champions as the Singapore National Coffee Championship (SNCC) 2026, concluded after three days of electrifying competition. Organised by the Singapore Coffee Association (SCA) and co-located with SIGEP Asia alongside other F&B trade events, Specialty Food & Drinks Asia (SFDA) and Restaurant Asia, the annual championship brought together 63 competitors across four categories. The champions will represent Singapore at the corresponding World Coffee Championships categories in 2027.
Across the three-day championship, competitors demonstrated skills spanning precision brewing and espresso preparation to latte art and sensory tasting challenges across four championship categories: the Singapore National Barista Championship, Timemore Singapore National Brewers Cup, Singapore National Latte Art Championship and Singapore Cup Tasters Championship.
As Singapore’s flagship annual coffee competition, SNCC sets a national benchmark for specialty coffee excellence, supports the development of local professionals and provides a recognised pathway for them to compete internationally.
The winner of the Singapore National Barista Championship (SNBC) 2026 is Gabriel Lim Yeok Sien, Barista, Glyph Supply Co. He will represent Singapore at the World Barista Championship in Tokyo, Japan, in 2027.
The category challenges competitors to demonstrate their technical skills and creativity by preparing three courses of innovative espresso-based beverages: espresso, milk and a signature beverage.
“This was my first time competing in the Singapore National Coffee Championships, so winning the Singapore National Barista Championship feels incredibly surreal. I am deeply grateful to my team for their unwavering support, guidance and encouragement throughout the journey. It is a tremendous honour to represent Singapore on the global stage, and I will give it my all to make the country proud,” said Gabriel Lim, Singapore National Barista Champion.
The winner of the TIMEMORE Singapore National Brewers Cup (SNBrC) 2026 is Elysia Tan, Brand Manager, MAME Specialty Coffee. The four-time champion has been competing since 2018 and last clinched the title in 2024. Cementing herself as the queen of coffee brewing in Singapore and the most decorated competitor in the category, she will go on to represent Singapore at the World Brewers Cup in Bogotá, Colombia, in 2027. This category highlights the craft of brewing filtered coffee by hand, and promotes manual coffee-brewing and service excellence.
“Winning the Timemore Singapore National Brewers Cup for the fourth time is incredibly meaningful. Every competition presents a new challenge, and this year, I dedicated more time to refining my routine and sharpening every detail to improve. I’m grateful for the support I’ve received throughout my preparation, and I’m excited for the opportunity to represent Singapore on the world stage,” shared Elysia Tan, Timemore Singapore National Brewers Cup Champion.
The winner of the Singapore Latte Art Champion (SLAC) 2026 is Zheng Yi Lim, Senior Barista at Cafe Kitsune. He will represent Singapore at the World Latte Art Championship in Lisbon, Portugal, in 2027. Having previously competed in the championship twice, finishing as second runner-up and first runner-up respectively, Lim clinched his first title this year after participating in more than 20 coffee competitions throughout his career.
This competition showcases participants’ artistic expression in coffee making, using milk-pouring methods to create intricate latte art designs. It is scored based on symmetry, contrast, creativity and visual impact.
“I feel incredibly grateful to win this year’s championship. After finishing as second runner-up and first runner-up in my previous appearances at the Singapore Latte Art Championship, winning the title this year is rewarding. This achievement means a lot after years of competing and pushing myself to improve. I’m excited for the opportunities ahead and hope to connect with and be inspired by the wider global coffee community,” shared Zheng Yi Lim, Singapore National Latte Art Champion.
The winner of the Singapore Cup Tasters Championship (SCTC) 2026 is Wong Li Ping, Levina, Trainer, Torch Coffee. Based in Kenya, she conducts coffee training classes for locals and international students and aims to bridge the gaps for the people behind the communities of coffee. In her third year participating in the SCTC, she emerged victorious as the sole female to reach the finals. This category tests one's ability to quickly and accurately identify subtle taste differences in several cups of specialty coffee.
“One of my key motivations to win stemmed from a desire to bring Singapore to the rest of the world. Having taught in coffee-producing nations such as Myanmar and Kenya, the realisation that many coffee growers themselves have never tasted the specialty coffee they cultivate has inspired me to want to contribute more to the communities behind coffee. I’m excited to carry Singapore's coffee community with me as I compete internationally,” said Wong Li Ping, Levina, Singapore Cup Tasters Champion.
From returning champions and experienced professionals to first-time competitors, this year’s field reflected the continued growth and maturity of Singapore’s coffee community. The competition provided a platform for participants to benchmark themselves against national and international standards, refine their craft and exchange ideas with peers from across the industry.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|