DaVinci Gourmet Barista Craft champions named

At the Global Finals of the Inaugural DaVinci Gourmet Barista Craft Championship 2024, Emerson Nascimento from Latin America was crowned World Champion, securing 1st place after a rigorous three-stage competition which attracted participation from Asia Pacific, the Middle East, Africa, and Latin America. Thailand’s Chatuphon Jannongva took second place, and Japan’s Masanori Fujikura, third.

These top contenders were selected from among 15 finalist winners vying for the prestigious title of DaVinci Gourmet’s Barista Craft Champion 2024 through a showcase of skills in practical tests, latte art, and signature coffee presentations. The prize winners collectively received USD 6,000 in cash, trophies, and hampers, with the World Champion also earning a fully sponsored coffee experience trip to South Korea. Since its launch in August 2024, the competition has crowned 15 champion baristas from 30 participating countries, whittled down from over 780 online submissions from around the world.

“At DaVinci Gourmet, our aim was to bring together coffee crafters from around the world, and I’m absolutely amazed by the creativity and storytelling that was displayed. From inventive flavour pairings to delicious concoctions that reflect the winners’ unique coffee cultures, this competition showcased coffee in ways we’ve never seen before. The connections made and the deepened sense of community truly embody our ethos, ‘United Through Coffee.’ The talent and passion of these baristas were outstanding. The winners truly earned their accolades while the sense of community makes everyone a winner,” said Eloise Dubuisson, General Manager, Foodservice Brands, Kerry Asia Pacific, Middle East & Africa.

Under the theme ‘United Through Coffee’ organised by DaVinci Gourmet, a renowned beverage solutions brand that is part of Kerry, a global taste and nutrition solutions company, The DaVinci Gourmet Barista Craft Championship 2024 has proved to be a trendsetter in the coffee world with its focus on the sensory experience of coffee. Unlike conventional contests that focus on classic brews, this first-of-its-kind competition provides a unique platform for the global coffee community to showcase artistry, talent, and craftsmanship while building connections. Going beyond traditional brewing skills, this competition emphasises the pairing of flavours while pushing the boundaries of coffee innovation, celebrating the fusion of art and science in coffee craft.

Winners and their creative concoctions

The three-stage competition culminated in the global finals that featured a Winners’ Showcase on 23 October 2024, followed by the finals on 24 October 2024 on the sidelines of FHA HoReCa 2024 in Singapore. At the Winners' Showcase, the finalists took centre stage at the purpose-built Kerry stand, each presenting a signature beverage that showcased their creativity, skill, and flair for flavour pairings. Visitors were treated to stunning latte art, inventive drink creations, and the lively coffee culture camaraderie. During the finals, each barista had 10 minutes to calibrate their equipment, 15 minutes to craft three beverages—a hot coffee-based beverage with latte art, a cold black coffee-based beverage, and a cold white coffee-based beverage—and 4 minutes to present their creations to the judges. The finalists were then judged on practical skills, latte art, and their signature coffee presentations.

1st Place, Emerson Nascimento

Latin American finalist with 16 years of experience, Emerson refined his skills at Brazil’s Casa do Barista and has been sharing his expertise as a barista trainer since 2010, working across several countries.

“I am honoured to be selected World Champion of the DaVinci Gourmet Barista Craft Championship 2024. A heartfelt thank you to the organisers, judges, and especially the talented group of finalists I got to know and learn from. It has been a privilege to represent Latin America and showcase our rich coffee culture on a global stage. DaVinci Gourmet and Kerry are true pioneers in flavour innovation -- this competition allowed us to push the boundaries of coffee craftsmanship and provided valuable insights on enhancing the sensory experience of coffee, which I will take home with me,” says Emerson Nascimento, DaVinci Gourmet Barista Craft World Champion 2024.

For his three drinks, Emerson used a Brazilian coffee sourced from the Lagoinha farm in southern Minas. This Yellow Bourbon variety offers vibrant red fruit notes and a distinctly floral aroma. This coffee provides a specialty flavour profile and elevates the acidity. The same coffee and recipe are used consistently across all drinks, with a ratio of 20g coffee in for a 60ml yield.

2nd Place Chatuphon Jannongva, Thailand

Finalist Chatuphon Jannongva, who began his coffee journey in 2015, combines his passion for latte art with his creative background in drawing, transforming each cup into a work of art while celebrating his Thai heritage in his creations.

3rd Place Masanori Fujikura, Japan Finalist

A barista and coffee crafter since 2017, Masanori owns and operates Bar x Bar x Bar x Watarase in Tochigi, Japan, where he serves inventive coffee creations. He is also Japan’s champion barista at the World Coffee in Good Spirits (WCIGS) competition. For Masanori, the concept of “coffee is seed” forms the basis of his three drinks. He emphasises the importance of remembering that coffee originates from the seed of a plant, which underscores the connection between life and our enjoyment of coffee today.

Barista Craft Championships Mechanics & Judging Panel

 The competition kicked off with national preliminary rounds in August 2024, where participants submitted a digital entry including a detailed recipe, preparation method (video or written), and a photo of their creation using DaVinci Gourmet products. Competitors needed to use at least 10ml of DaVinci Gourmet syrups in their drink, with no more than three products from the brand, and a maximum of eight ingredients, including garnishes and ice.

Espresso is the required coffee base across all creations. Successful entrants then advanced to the national finals, where they faced espresso-based challenges, judged on technical execution, flavour complexity, and presentation—leading to 15 winners.

The competition culminated in the global finals at FHA HoReCa in Singapore on 24 October 2024. The esteemed panel of judges included Diego Campos, three-time Colombian Barista Champion (2014, 2016, 2019) and World Barista Champion 2021; Jeneece Tan, Menu & Innovation Manager at Kerry Group (APMEA) and Barista Skills Trainer; Aaron Phua, Malaysia Barista Champion 2019; and Kenda Nguyen, Starbucks Vietnam Barista Champion (2015).

"This competition brings together coffee and flavour enthusiasts, creating a unique platform to celebrate baristas who push creative boundaries. It’s inspiring to witness the exceptional global talent on display, especially with the sensory aspect of this contest, which adds a whole new dimension to the craft. Events like these unite our community and showcase the endless possibilities when DaVinci Gourmet’s incredible range meets coffee. There was great synergy of ingredients, flavours and technique on display and I am very excited for the several new-to-market ideas that emerged from this contest" – Diego Campos, World Barista Champion 2021 For further details on the DVG Barista Craft Championship’s prizes and evaluation matrix, take a look at the Annexe below. For further details on the DVG Barista Craft Championship, view the link. 

DaVinci Gourmet is a global beverage solutions brand that’s part of taste and nutrition solutions company Kerry.