PCA champions crowned at Melbourne competition showcase – BeanScene

Australia’s emerging coffee talent was on display in Melbourne as competitors from across the country battled it out at the Professional Coffee Athletics (PCA) 2026 Latte Art and Brewers Cup competitions.

Queensland latte artist Deft and brewer Johnny Lau took home top honours in their respective competitions at the Sanremo Showroom on 29 and 30 October.

The two-day event featured the PCA Australia Latte Art Competition and Brewing Competition, bringing together competitors, internationally recognised judges, and industry partners in a showcase of technical skill, creativity, and coffee excellence.

Deft of Queensland claimed the Latte Art Championship title ahead of Ming Wan of ONA in second place and AJ of Melbourne’s Higher Ground in third.

Competitors were challenged to demonstrate consistency, creativity, and precision under the pressure of live competition, producing complex pours before the experienced judging panel.

The following day, Johnny Lau took out the Brewing Competition, finishing ahead of Kay from Sydney’s Jibbi Coffee Roasters and Kosuke of Axil Coffee Roasters.

Lau impressed judges with an unconventional approach, selecting a different dripper in each competition round to showcase his adaptability and technical understanding of extraction and flavour development.

According to organisers, the quality of competition reflected the growing depth of Australia’s specialty coffee competition talent pool and growing engagement with professional competition pathways.

The Latte Art Competition was assessed by 2015 World Latte Art Champion Caleb Cha and Australian Latte Art champions Amy Zhang and Victor Vu, alongside ASCA national-level judge Jodie Chan.

The Brewing Competition judging panel included 2026 World Brewers Cup runner-up Simon Gautherin, three-time Australian Brewers Cup Champion Tom Hutchins, former Australian Brewers Cup Champion Harry Ko, and four-time Singapore Brewers Cup Champion Elysia Tan, who joined the event as an international guest judge.

The winners will now set their sights on the Asia-Pacific Coffee Masters Grand Final in China in early 2027. Lau and Deft will join PCA Australia Cup Tasters Champion Bank as part of the Australian delegation, competing against leading coffee professionals from across the Asia-Pacific region.

PCA Australia organisers Amy Zhang and Jodie Chan say the international event is designed to be both competition platform and an opportunity for knowledge exchange and professional development, enabling competitors to engage with different coffee professionals and broaden their industry networks.

Established in Taiwan in 2013, Professional Coffee Athletics has expanded throughout Asia-Pacific, delivering more than 200 coffee competitions across Australia, China, Malaysia, Vietnam, Taiwan, and Hong Kong.