From 11 to 14 of June 2024, 27 of the most talented Starbucks baristas from across Asia Pacific and Japan came together in Hong Kong to compete for the titles of Regional Barista Champion and Latte Art Champion. Now in its 8th year, the Asia Pacific Regional Barista Championships is a time-honored platform that celebrates the deep coffee passion, craft, and expertise of Starbucks partners. This year, the competition spanned four days and saw the competitors showcase their coffee knowledge and creativity, as they fiercely represented the best of coffee craft from 14 markets across the region.
Over the course of a 15-minute presentation, the finalists executed their Pour Over, Latte Art, and Signature Beverage while telling a story of what inspired their unique creations. And after a close competition, Gorgeous “George” Lord Emanuel from Starbucks Reserve Dewata Bali was named the runner-up winner of the 2024 Regional Barista Championship in front of a live crowd, as well as 30,000 coffee passionate partners who tuned in to watch the live broadcast. “I was excited to share something that changed my perspective of a barista in this progressive world of coffee in a huge embracement of automation. This fascinating phenomenon triggers me with a simple question, ‘What makes us irreplaceable as a barista?’ For almost 3 years I’ve been at Starbucks, I found the virtues that make us irreplaceable as a barista: sense of artistry, empathy, and novelty,” said George. He added, “At the competition, I portrayed the sense of artistry through my swan latte art, empathy through a beautiful manual brew blend from Sumatra (70% Medium roast Indonesia Aceh, and 30% Light roast Reserve Indonesia Mount Leuser), and lastly, I showed the sense of novelty through my signature beverage, Suwarnadwipa, which means The Land of Gold, for a tribute to the beautiful land of Sumatra.”
Renauldy “Aldy” Darma Wijaya from Starbucks Supermall Karawaci 2 Tangerang emerged as the 2024 Latte Art Champion. His exceptional talent went beyond creating beautifully crafted latte art; he wove moments of connection and storytelling over coffee, taking the judges on an unforgettable journey.
“For the competition, I made a story of my own animal kingdom that shows a beautiful white horse, a friendly funny monkey and a dazzling eagle flying through the sky. For me, latte art takes endless hours and dedication, but it’s about more than just practicing the art itself – it’s also about creating a story and evoking feelings,” said Renauldy. “I see latte art as a way to put a smile on a customer’s face and create moments of human connection. I’m humbled to be recognized as this year’s Latte Art Champion and look forward to continuing to hone my skills.”
Beyond the competition, the event also represents an opportunity for Starbucks partners to come together as a community. The immersive Coffee Show was about knowledge-sharing through engaging partner-led workshops, immersive experiences, and thought-provoking conversations. Partners had a chance to come together to connect, learn from one another, and elevate the coffee experience for our customers.
“Baristas are the heart of Starbucks, and this event is the platform where they can truly shine and demonstrate their coffee knowledge and innovation on the grand stage,” said Emmy Kan, president, Starbucks Asia Pacific. “I am incredibly proud of our partners and their relentless pursuit of the limitless possibilities of world-class coffee experiences. And I am grateful to every one of them for their strong commitment and dedication to coffee, craft, and the brand.”
The Asia Pacific Regional Barista Championships continues to be a platform to celebrate the incredible talent and impact of partners in the region, while supporting their professional growth. It’s a place for partners to come together, demonstrate their unwavering commitment and dedication to coffee craft, and bring the best Starbucks Experience to customers in the region and beyond.
2024 Starbucks Regional Barista Champions:
- 1st place: Nobuki, Starbucks Japan Market
- 2nd place: George, Starbucks Indonesia Market
- 3rd place: Kenny, Starbucks Brunei Market
2024 Starbucks Regional Latte Art Champions:
- 1st place: Renauldy, Starbucks Indonesia Market
- 2nd place: Qi Wei, Starbucks Singapore Market
- 3rd place: Tang, Starbucks Thailand Market
