Singapore’s finest coffee talent battled it out at this year’s Singapore National Coffee Championship (SNCC), held over three days this month. Organised by the Singapore Coffee Association, the event saw 71 participants compete across four categories: espresso-based drinks, hand-brewed filter coffee, latte art and coffee tasting. Winners from each category will go on to represent Singapore at the 2026 World Coffee Championships.
In the espresso-based category, owner of Oaks Coffee Co. Jervis Tan takes home the title of the Singapore National Barista Champion. Previously, Jervis won the National Latte Art Championship five times, and this is his first time competing in the Singapore National Barista Championship category. For a taste of his brews, swing by Oaks Coffee Co. in Upper Thomson, which has been a reliable haunt for coffee and brunch since it first opened as Kinsmen Coffee in 2013.
In the world of hand-brewed filter coffee, Ong Shen Choy is named the Singapore National Brewers Cup Champion. Shen Choy has been in the industry for over a decade and now runs Fluid Collective, a hole-in-the-wall coffee bar and roaster in Potong Pasir. You can even sign up for a filter or espresso subscription with Fluid to sample its monthly rotation of beans.
And with any good cuppa, you can’t deny that aesthetics play a part too – especially when it comes to latte art. This year, Singapore’s National Latte Art Championship goes to Robin Lee, manager at The Populus Coffee & Food Co. In this category, participants are assessed based on the symmetry, contrast, creativity and visual impact of their latte art.
Finally, Starbucks store manager Tan Yi Xin remains the barista with the sharpest palate in Singapore, clinching the Singapore Cup Tasters Championship once again. This segment tests the speed and accuracy with which participants can identify differences across several types of specialty coffee.
So there you have it, Singapore’s top baristas for 2025. The best part is that you can taste their award-winning creations right here and now. Simply swing by any of these cafés for some of the best brews the city has to offer.
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