After winning the 2025 Aotearoa Latte Art Championship, Dennis Hsueh recently represented Aotearoa in the World Latte Art Championship in San Diego, and we asked him to write a few words about his experience.
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Written by Dennis;
The Journey to 11th in the World
My Road to the World Latte Art Championship 2026
April 11, 2026.
San Diego.
Standing on the world stage, surrounded by the best latte artists on the planet, I felt the weight of everything it took to get there.
The lights were bright.
The room was full.
Every eye was watching.
But in that moment, everything became quiet.
Because I knew—this wasn’t just about ranking.
This was about the journey.
The Beginning
Preparation was not easy. In the early stages, I worked closely with my coach, Keith Wong. Together, we made a decision that shaped everything that followed. We didn’t want the most complicated patterns.
We wanted something harder to achieve—
Patterns that were clear.
Patterns that were instantly recognizable.
At first, I struggled with that idea. Because in competition, it’s easy to believe that more complexity means more value. But this path required something different. It required restraint.
A Shift in Mindset
As training continued, I began to see things differently. Competing at the highest level forces you to be honest with yourself. Watching other world-class baristas made me realize something important: Excellence is not defined by how difficult something is.
It’s defined by:
Control.
Balance.
Consistency.
And most importantly—clarity.
We had seen many animal patterns before—horses, dog faces, tigers, roosters, cows. But one thing stood out: We had never seen an elephant. So Keith and I decided to create one. At first, it barely resembled an elephant—maybe 70% at best. It took us two weeks just to get to that point. But we kept going. We refined it again and again—adjusting lines, reshaping the structure, simplifying where needed.
Over three months, we rebuilt the pattern nearly ten times.
Each version got closer.
Cleaner.
More intentional.
Until finally, it felt right.
The Stage
When I stepped onto the stage in San Diego, time felt different. Everything moved fast. Months of preparation came down to minutes. Every movement mattered. There were still doubts in my mind:
Is this enough?
Did I simplify too much?
Will this stand against the best in the world?
But as soon as I started pouring, those thoughts disappeared. It became instinct.
Just me,
the milk,
the espresso,
and the cup.
Nothing else.
The Result
I placed 11th in the world. And in that moment, I didn’t just feel proud— I felt certain. Because this result represented something deeper than a number. It represented growth.
Choosing clarity over complexity.
Trusting my direction, even when it felt uncertain.
Letting go of ego, and focusing on what truly matters.
This wasn’t the end of the journey. It was confirmation that I’m on the right path.
What I Learned
This experience changed how I see latte art—and competition itself. It’s not about how much you can show. It’s about how clearly you can express.
Less is more.
But only when every detail is intentional.
Looking Forward
This journey continues.
Placing 11th hasn’t satisfied me—it has driven me further.
To refine more.
To simplify deeper.
To understand more.
And the next time I step onto that world stage,
I won’t just aim to do more— I’ll aim to do it better.
With clarity.
With purpose.
With meaning.
Dennis Hsueu – placed 11th in the World Latte Art Championship ’26
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A huge thanks to all the Sponsors who helped Dennis get to the World Stage from the 2025 Latte Art Championships.
Principal Sponsor: Meadow Fresh
Event Sponsors: La Marzocco, AMC Roastery Supply NZ, Cafetto, Acme CupCo, Atomic Coffee, Oatly