Singapore’s kopi heritage has always run deep, but the country’s specialty coffee scene is now brewing on an entirely different level. The Singapore National Coffee Championship 2026 wrapped up on 23 July 2026 after three days of intense competition, crowning four new national champions who will go on to represent Singapore at the World Coffee Championships in 2027.
Organised by the Singapore Coffee Association (SCA) and co-located with SIGEP Asia alongside Specialty Food & Drinks Asia and Restaurant Asia, this year’s championship brought together 63 competitors across four categories. Held at Sands Expo & Convention Centre, it remains the nation’s premier platform for coffee professionals to benchmark themselves against international standards.
From national champions to global contenders
Over three days, competitors were tested on everything from precision brewing and espresso preparation to latte art and sensory tasting. Behind each title is a story of perseverance, from a four-time champion cementing her legacy to first-timers finally clinching a national crown. Here are the four talents carrying Singapore’s coffee craft onto the world stage.
Singapore National Barista Champion: Gabriel Lim Yeok Sien
Gabriel Lim Yeok Sien, a barista at Glyph Supply Co., took home the Singapore National Barista Championship title in his very first attempt, preparing three courses of espresso, milk and signature beverages for the judges. He will represent Singapore at the World Barista Championship in Tokyo in 2027. “Winning feels incredibly surreal. It is a tremendous honour to represent Singapore on the global stage, and I will give it my all to make the country proud,” he said.
TIMEMORE Singapore National Brewers Cup Champion: Elysia Tan
Elysia Tan, Brand Manager at MAME Specialty Coffee, reclaimed the TIMEMORE Singapore National Brewers Cup for the fourth time. Competing since 2018 and last winning in 2024, she is now the most decorated competitor in the category, and will head to the World Brewers Cup in Bogotá, Colombia, in 2027. “Every competition presents a new challenge, and this year I dedicated more time to refining my routine,” she shared.
Singapore National Latte Art Champion: Zheng Yi Lim
Zheng Yi Lim, Senior Barista at Café Kitsuné, finally clinched his first national latte art title after finishing as runner-up twice and competing in more than 20 coffee competitions over his career. Judged on symmetry, contrast, creativity and visual impact, he will represent Singapore at the World Latte Art Championship in Lisbon, Portugal, in 2027.
Singapore Cup Tasters Champion: Wong Li Ping, Levina
A trainer with Torch Coffee and based in Kenya, Wong Li Ping, Levina won the Singapore Cup Tasters Championship in her third year competing, emerging as the sole woman to reach the finals. The category tests one’s ability to quickly identify subtle taste differences across cups of specialty coffee. “One of my key motivations stemmed from a desire to bring Singapore to the rest of the world,” she said, ahead of representing the country internationally.
A maturing coffee community
From returning champions to first-time competitors, this year’s field reflected a scene that keeps growing in depth and confidence. “Across all four championships, we saw a strong display of technical ability, consistency, creativity and determination,” said Victor Mah, President of the Singapore Coffee Association. “We are proud of our champions and look forward to seeing them carry Singapore’s coffee craft onto the world stage in 2027.”
It is a fitting reflection of how far local coffee has come, from neighbourhood kopitiams to a homegrown specialty circuit that now feeds directly into global competition. If you are keen to taste your way around the scene, our roundup of Kenangan Coffee at Changi is a good place to start, while festival-goers can look back at Sake Meguri 2026 at the same Sands Expo venue.
Looking ahead to 2027
The Singapore National Coffee Championship returns from 14 to 16 July 2027 at Sands Expo & Convention Centre. Until then, keep an eye on the four champions as they prepare to take on the world, and explore more of the city’s dining scene with our Seasonal Tastes buffet guide.
