The theme “Espresso Your Flavour” comes to life in Singapore as top baristas from across the region compete for a place on the world stage
via GRAPHIC PLUS | SINGAPORE – Hasting Ng from Hong Kong has been crowned the Asia Pacific champion of the DaVinci Gourmet Barista Craft Championship 2025–26, securing his place at the Global Final in World of Coffee, Bangkok, Thailand, on 9 May 2026.
Following a full day of high-pressure competition held at Food & Hospitality Asia (FHA), Hasting impressed judges with an espresso-based creation and a free-play beverage that demonstrated technical precision, flavour balance and a distinct point of view. He will now represent Asia Pacific at the Global Final, where he will compete for the world title against Yasmim Rodrigues Sarandy da Silva, winner for Latin America, and Cetin Alpay Baskan, winner for Middle East, India Subcontinent, and Africa.
The Asia Pacific final also spotlighted a strong field of talent from across the region.Tuan Hai Khu from Vietnam was named first runner-up, while Michael Reinhard of Indonesia took second runner-up. Representing the Philippines, John Joseph C. San Juan also delivered a strong performance, underscoring the creativity and diversity of emerging barista talent across Southeast Asia.
The 2025–26 championship unfolds across four stages: national preliminary digital submissions, nationals, regionals, and the global final.
Under this year’s theme, “Espresso Your Flavour”, the championship celebrates passion, creativity and individuality in coffee craft. Building on the inaugural 2024 edition, DaVinci Gourmet has positioned this year’s programme around empowering baristas to express their unique voice through flavour, storytelling and technique.
The Asia Pacific stage brought together eight national winners from across the region, including China, Japan, Malaysia and Thailand, each tasked with crafting two beverages under a time limit while demonstrating technical skill and professional flair. Competitors were evaluated by sensory and technical judges across criteria including flavour, presentation, workflow, cleanliness and consistency, reflecting the competition’s emphasis on both artistry and discipline.
Across the competition floor, baristas delivered drinks that blended espresso craft with ingredients and flavour references drawn from their own cultures. Several presentations stood out for their inventive use of local ingredients, reinterpretations of familiar desserts, and sustainable concepts, showing how café menus in the region continue to evolve through both storytelling and sensory sophistication.
Among the standout creations, Hasting Ng presented a non-alcoholic spiced mulled coffee and a nasi lemak-inspired espresso drink layered with pandan, lychee and rice syrup. Vietnam’s Tuan Hai Khu delivered clean, contemporary expressions, pairing Kenyan espresso with raspberry, hibiscus and shortbread foam, alongside a refined tea-based signature drink. Indonesia’s Michael Reinhard closed with bold contrasts, moving from a vibrant, city-inspired botanical drink to a comforting, heritage-led espresso topped with aromatic cream. The Philippines’ John Joseph C. San Juan showcased tropical ingenuity with a nostalgic ube-based creation featuring clarified halo-halo and banana cream, alongside a milk-washed espresso drink layered with mango, peach and passionfruit.
“Winning this final has been a meaningful moment because it reflects the journey I’ve taken to find my own voice as a barista. DaVinci Gourmet gave me the space and tools to explore that with confidence, and to create drinks that feel simple and true to my style. I’m proud to represent Hong Kong and Asia Pacific in Bangkok, and I look forward to showing that the most memorable beverages are the ones crafted on clarity, balance and a clear point of view,” said Hasting Ng, who is a barista champion coach, trainer, and consultant, and was the first runner-up in the 2025 Hong Kong Coffee in Good Spirit Championship.
Mikael Jasin, 2024 World Barista Champion and DaVinci Gourmet’s first brand ambassador for Asia Pacific, Middle East and Africa (APMEA), also returned as a special guest at the event, offering insight and encouragement to this year’s competitors, and will bring his knowledge and expertise to the judging panel at the global finals.
“Asia Pacific continues to be a global epicentre of coffee and beverage innovation, and this year’s regional championships — alongside Latin America and MISA — demonstrate just how high the bar has been set,” said Eloise Dubuisson, General Manager, Food Service Brands, Kerry Asia Pacific, Middle East & Africa. “This second Barista Craft Global Championship reflects a step change in calibre, from the expansion into more markets to the exceptional quality of competitors, many of whom are already champions in their own right. The baristas were challenged not only to showcase technique, but to express their identity through flavour — and every finalist delivered. The passion, creativity and originality on display point clearly to the evolution of beverage craftsmanship.”
Through this multi-stage championship, DaVinci Gourmet continues to invest in baristas as creative professionals while supporting the wider café industry with inspiration, education and a platform for innovation, shaping the future of coffee culture across markets.
