Feb 09: The National Latte Art Championship (NLAC), India’s premier latte art competition, is set to host its Semi-Finals and Finals at the India International Coffee Festival (IICF), Bengaluru, from 12 to 14 February 2026.
Organized by Kaapi Machines under the leadership of Coffee Board of India and World Coffee Events, the fourth edition of the championship has seen strong participation from baristas across the country.
Following preliminary rounds conducted in Mumbai, Delhi and Bengaluru between December 2025 and January 2026, 12 baristas have qualified for the national finals, earning their place through technical precision, consistency and performance under pressure.
The finalists will now compete at IICF, one of India’s largest coffee industry gatherings, where the championship will culminate in the crowning of the national winner.
Commenting on the championship, Abhinav Mathur, CEO and Managing Director, Kaapi Machines, Something’s Brewing and Budan, said “Kaapi Machines has consistently focused on creating platforms that showcase India’s coffee talent on the global stage. The National Latte Art Championship reflects the rapid evolution of India’s coffee ecosystem, giving baristas a globally benchmarked platform to demonstrate creativity, technical mastery and competitive excellence.”
The winner of the competition will go on to represent India at the World Latte Art Championship 2026, to be held in San Diego, USA.
The National Latte Art Championship serves as India’s national platform for identifying and advancing latte art talent, offering a structured competition framework aligned with international judging and performance standards.
Over the years, the championship has emerged as a key platform for recognizing and advancing barista skill in India, with past winners representing the country on international stages in Switzerland, Denmark and Taiwan.
The Semi-Finals and Finals at IICF are expected to draw strong interest from café owners, coffee professionals and industry stakeholders, as India’s top latte artists compete for the national title.
