Singapore’s Top Baristas Triumph at National Coffee Championships 2024

Tuesday, July 2, 2024

The Specialty Food & Drinks Asia (SFDA) and Specialty Coffee & Tea Asia (SCTA) events recently concluded after three successful days. These trade shows, focusing on premium and gourmet food and beverages, were held at the Sands Expo & Convention Centre in Singapore. Managed by IEG Asia, these events were part of the inaugural SIGEP Asia, an extension of the famous Italian SIGEP Worldwide exhibition for artisan gelato, pastry, bakery, and coffee. They ran concurrently with Restaurant Asia and were associated with the Food2Go delivery and takeaway expo.

During the SCTA, the Singapore National Coffee Championship (SNCC), orchestrated by the Singapore Coffee Association, took place over three days and featured 70 competitors. These participants vied for titles in four main categories: the Singapore National Barista Championship, Singapore National Brewers Cup, Singapore National Latte Art Championship, and Singapore Cup Tasters Championship. The SNCC serves as the premier competition for Singapore’s coffee sector, aiming to elevate the barista profession and encourage excellence in coffee preparation. Winners from each category will represent Singapore at the World Coffee Championships in 2025, to be held across three continents.

Wong Ruoqi, known as Chris, claimed the Singapore National Barista Championship. As the Head of Coffee at Santino, Chris will represent Singapore at the World Barista Championship in Milan, Italy, in October 2025. This competition tested the participants’ ability to create inventive espresso-based beverages.

Elysia Tan, the Director of Homeground Coffee Roasters and also the winner from previous years, won the Singapore National Brewers Cup once more. She will participate in the World Brewers Cup in Jakarta, Indonesia, in May 2025. This competition emphasizes the skill of manually brewing filtered coffee.

Tan Jia Min from The Populus: Coffee & Food Co. secured the Singapore National Latte Art Championship. She will compete in the World Latte Art Championships in Geneva, Switzerland, in June 2025, where competitors use milk to create elaborate designs in their lattes.

“The Singapore National Barista Championship sponsored by Santino is a highly technical category, and I’m happy that all my hard work and preparation has paid off. It will be an incredible honour to fly Singapore’s flag on the world stage. I look forward to showcasing the creativity and passion of our coffee scene in Italy next year,” said Wong Ruoqi (Chris), Singapore National Barista Champion.

Tan Yi Xin, a Starbucks Coffee Singapore barista, emerged as the Singapore Cup Tasters Champion. She will compete at the World Cup Tasters Championship, also in Geneva, in June 2025. This category challenges competitors to discern subtle differences in coffee flavors.

“Winning the Singapore National Brewers Cup is a huge accomplishment as this competition is all about brewing the perfect cup. Singapore’s coffee scene has indeed grown by leaps and bounds, and this win is dedicated to the incredible work baristas do every day, transforming beans into something beautiful. I’m determined to work harder to refine my craft and compete at the highest level,” said Elysia Tan, Singapore National Brewers Cup Champion.

The SCTA and SNCC have highlighted and celebrated the vibrant coffee scene in Singapore, introducing local talent to the global stage. At SCTA, an extensive selection of specialty coffee equipment and products was displayed by both local and international brands like TIMEMORE, DASHER Singapore, and Allpress Espresso.

“This was an exciting yet nerve-racking experience, but I’m thrilled to win the title of Singapore’s Latte Art Champion. I’m eager to showcase my latte art skills and creativity on the prestigious international stage in Switzerland next year, and I’ll do my best to make Singapore proud,” said Tan Jia Min, Singapore National Latte Art Champion.

SIGEP Asia, along with the fifth edition of Restaurant Asia and other associated events, attracted over 11,000 trade visitors and more than 320 brands from over 30 countries. This large-scale event served as a focal point for the global F&B and hospitality sectors, featuring exhibitions, leadership symposiums, seminars, masterclasses, and more, contributing significantly to technological innovation and sustainability in the industry.

“Claiming the Singapore Cup Tasters title feels like a dream. Even though I had a throat infection throughout the competition, I decided to let my tongue do the talking and trust my tastebuds. I’m eager to put my palate to the test at the World Coffee Championships in Geneva and see how it stacks up against the best. I’d like to thank the Singapore Coffee Association, my team from Starbucks Coffee Singapore, as well as fellow competitors, for this exhilarating experience,” said Tan Yi Xin, Singapore Cup Tasters Champion.

“The calibre of talent displayed at the SNCC this year was truly remarkable.Each and every participant showcased exceptional technical skills, as well as a deep understanding and appreciation for coffee. Their dedication to their craft is truly inspiring, and we are confident they will represent Singapore proudly at the World Coffee Championships. I’d like to thank our judges, hailing from Singapore, Australia, China, Malaysia, New Zealand, Hong Kong, Indonesia, Philippines, South Korea, Taiwan and Thailand, for sharing their time and expertise, and my team at SCA for organising the event and ensuring that the four competitions ran smoothly,” said Victor Mah, President of the Singapore Coffee Association.

“It has been thrilling to host the SNCC at SCTA within our first-ever SIGEP Asia edition, exposing Singapore’s talents to the world and also showcasing Singapore’s passion for the F&B industry to a global audience. We are proud to have provided a platform where exceptional talent can shine and inspire others. This is truly what SIGEP represents – a world expo for food service excellence – and we look forward to bridging more communities across continents,” said Ilaria Cicero, CEO of IEG Asia and organiser of the events. 

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