Date: Sunday 20th September
Venue: AUT WG Building – 74 Governor Fitzroy Place, Auckland CBD
Full schedule coming soon!
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Competitor Line Up:
Yoonhee Jeong representing Mojo Coffee, Auckland
Bryan Rajeyya Grey Roasting Co., Hamilton
Dennis Yu Hsin Hsueh representing DEMIS Cafe, Hamilton
Tiffany Goh representing EOS Coffee, Auckland
Daniel Woodhouse representing Grey Roasting Co., Hamilton
Takashi Ueno representing Grey Roasting Co., Hamilton
Jenny Kim representing Atomic Coffee Roasters, Auckland
Julie Suzuki representing Starbucks New Zealand, Auckland
Parmveer Singh representing Dulcie Eatery, Auckland
Hitoshi Araya representing Frank’s Coffee, Wellington
Tsubasa Nico Nozaki representing Sketchbook Coffee/New Chapter, Wellington
Bill Zheng, Independent, Auckland
Judges Line Up:
Judging in the Latte Art Championship is dependent on passing the calibration prior to the competition
- Thanh Nghia (Neil) Ly | Independent
WCC Certified Judge (Latte Art Visual, Barista Sensory & Technical); NZ, Singapore, HK & Vietnam Latte Art Championships 2024–2025; Vietnam, NZ, Philippines & Singapore National Barista Championships - Damon Dickons | Toasted Coffee Roasters
2024 Latte Art Champs - Ailene Ryan | Starbucks NZ
Internal Starbucks NZ & Asia Pacific Regional Judging - Ken Shi | Aoraki Coffee Roaster
Visual, Head & Support Judge, Meadow Fresh NZ Latte Art Championship 2017–2025 - Joseph Heo | Independent
Visual Judge, 2023 NZ Latte Art Championship - Kayoko Nakamura | UCC Coffee
Latte Art judge 2019, 2021, 2023–2025; Barista Comp judge 2018, 2021–2025 - Adrian Mancuso | Criteria Coffee
WBC, WBrC & WCIGS certified judge - Tomoko Harris-Aickin | Starbucks NZ
First-time judge - Evanne Impas | Starbucks NZ
First-time judge - Nelson Ik Run Soon | Starbucks NZ
NZ Latte Art Championship 2024 & 2025, NZ Brewers Cup 2026 - Gong Xuan Yeoh | Parable House
Visual Judge (Final Panel), NZ Latte Art Championship 2024 & 2025 - Masashi Tanaka | Toasted
First-time judge - Kate Ka Pik Chan | Cupping Room Coffee Roaster
Head Judge, Vietnam Barista Championship 2026 & Hong Kong Barista Championship 2025; Sensory Judge, World Barista Championship 2025 & NZ Barista Championship 2025 - David Huang | Society Coffee Roasters
NZ National Latte Art Judge since 2010; NZ National Barista Judge since 2020; WBC Certified Sensory Judge (Seoul 2017, Amsterdam 2018, Melbourne 2022, Athens 2023); World Latte Art Championship Visual Judge, Taipei 2023 - Andrew Feldon | Mouthwater Coffee Company
Judging annually since 2009 - Hoony Chae |
The Aotearoa Latte Art Championships 2026 is kindly supported by:
- Principal: Confirmed three-year 2024/25/26 Meadow Fresh
Sponsors:
- Machinery: Confirmed three-year 2024/25/26 La Marzocco NZ
- Cleaning Supplies: Confirmed three-year 2024/25/26 Cafetto
- Ceramics/Porcelain: Confirmed three-year 2024/25/26 Acme Cup Co
- Alternative Milk: Boring
- Coffee: Hummingbird
- Grinder: AMC Roastery Supply
- Sponsor: Ārepa