The Aotearoa Latte Art Championship 2025 leads to the World Latte Art Championship 2026. Come on, milk wizards, get in to WIN!
All competitors registered to compete before Monday 5 May, will receive a free ticket to the Championship online workshop on Tuesday 6 May 6pm – 8:30-9 pm as part of their entry for registering early. All attendees must log in before the workshop starts.
The 2025 prize pack will include flights and accommodation to the World Latte Art Championship 2026. Venue TBC.
The Championship will be held in strict accordance with the World Latte Art Rules and Regulations, NZ Code of Conduct, NZ Champions Terms and Conditions, and other rules pertaining to the event.
Event Overview
The Aotearoa Latte Art Championship 2025 highlights artistic expression in a competition platform that challenges the barista in an on-demand performance. FREE public entry. Come along and see the incredible art in coffee!
The Aotearoa Championship 2025 comprises two separate rounds: a preliminary round and a final round.
The preliminary round will take place on stage for eight (8) minutes, where two identical free-pour lattes and two identical designer lattes are produced.
The highest-scoring six competitors will compete in the final round entirely on stage for eleven (11) minutes. In the final of this championship, the baristas present two identical samples of ‘art in a cup’ for three different beverages: two separate sets of matching free-pour lattes and one set of matching designer pattern lattes (which may incorporate etching, or similar techniques, and surface decoration).
The first two pours will be made only with a jug of milk. The designer latte can be made with any surface aid at the choice of the barista. To ensure that the presented art is what the barista intends to deliver, the judges will be given a photo of the intended design before the start of the presentation. Artistic impressions of the design are allowed alongside the image (photo), but the photo shall be the point of reference for the judges’ scoring.
The beverages will be judged immediately for visual attributes, creativity, identical patterns in the pairs, the contrast in the patterns, and the barista’s overall performance.
Event Overview Structure
This competition takes place over a day and consists of a preliminary round and a final round. Each competitor competes in the preliminary round, and then the top six will compete again in a finals round to determine the winner with the highest score, who becomes the Aotearoa Latte Art Champion 2025. Please note that this is only a summary description of the event and that the detailed structure and rules for this competition are outlined in and controlled by the Official Rules and Regulations.
Competitors are required at the venue for the main briefing at 7 am sharp before the start of the championship.
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Ngā mihi nui ki a koutou ngā hāpori tautoko ki tēnei kaupapa
A massive thank you to all of our generous supporters:
Meadow Fresh via Goodman Fielder
Principal Sponsor & Fresh Milk Sponsor: three-year 2024/25/26
At Meadow Fresh, we believe that great coffee starts with the best ingredients. As “The Milk Behind the Masters,” we take pride in offering the highest quality milk products that perfectly complement the coffee. We understand that every element is important in crafting a truly delicious cup, and because of this, we are committed to being a trusted partner of the New Zealand Specialty Coffee Association, supporting the talented baristas, roasters, and coffee enthusiasts who are pushing the boundaries of coffee culture in Aotearoa.
Espresso Machinery Sponsor: three-year 2024/25/26
We love supporting our industry and coffee community in New Zealand, for this reason La Marzocco has long been associated with specialty coffee and the places that care deeply for the quality of the coffee served.
The championship machine is the Linea Mini, which has all the performance of a professional machine yet is a cute domestic machine that brings café quality coffee to home, work and smaller hospo spots.
La Marzocco delivers real innovation in espresso machines and none more so than back in 1939 when we patented and made the first espresso machine with horizontal boilers, which is now an industry standard.
This was a game changer and our horizontal boiler design improved workflow, speed of service and provided baristas with an endless supply of steam to ensure perfectly textured milk.
To this day we still make beautifully designed machines with careful consideration of what baristas need, which is why La Marzocco celebrates excellence in coffee as the machine sponsor the Latte Art Championship.
We love to support people willing to compete and showcase their skills in using our espresso machines regardless of their experience or background and hope to make competitions accessible to all as a sponsor.
Hey Cafe via AMC Roastery Supply
Grinder Sponsor: three year 2024/25/26
By now you will hopefully know AMC Roastery Supply as the place to get your Hey Cafe, Mahlkoenig, Ditting and Anfim grinders, thanks to our long-standing sponsorship of the New Zealand Coffee Championships. But did you know that our parent company is a third-generation family-owned business that was first registered in 1950 by Alec Clubb, a canny ex-pat Scot who began importing coffee equipment in the 1960’s?
So, if you need to “Grind It, or Brew It” you should give Emma, Dave, or Greg a call. Go on, you know you want to!
Cleaning Supplies: three-year 2024/25/26
Cafetto is a specialist manufacturer of coffee machine cleaning products. Our philosophy is cleaning products for all machine types and users.
After 21 years of being part of the coffee industry, we take great pride in doing our bit to support the incredible baristas putting their passion for coffee craft front and centre. We’re honoured to be trusted with providing the cleaning products that help with producing the champion-worthy coffee.
Being part of NZSCA is a partnership we take great pride in, and we wish everyone competing the very best of luck.
Cafetto clean, a clean for every machine
Plant-based milk Sponsor: single year 2025
We’re proud to support the NZ Latte Art Champs because it celebrates the craft and creativity that drive this industry forward. These events bring the coffee community together, raise the standard of quality, and spotlight the skill behind every cup. At Oatly, we’re not just here with a great product — we’re here to champion the people who make this scene what it is: the baristas. Find us there to fuel the froth, celebrate the talent, and cheer on every pour.
Ceramic Sponsor: three years 2024/25/26
Coffee Sponsor: single year 2025.
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Tickets to compete> Please note that competitors are required to be onsite at the venue for the main briefing at 7 am sharp before the start of the championship.
Tickets for the online rules workshop> This is compulsory for all Judges and free for competitors registered before Friday 21 June.
Keen to Judge? Fill in this form now>
Keen to Volunteer? Fill in this form now>
Keen to watch the latte art? FREE Spectator tickets>
Who’s competing?
Olivia Lee, Independent, Hamilton
Ryan Bird, Representing: Frank’s Coffee, Wellington
Daniel Woodhouse, Representing: Grey Roasting Co., Hamilton
Hitoshi Araya, Representing: Frank’s Coffee, Wellington
Yu-Hsin (Dennis) Hsush Representing: Demi Cafe Hamilton
John Huang Representing: Demi Cafe Hamilton