Bengaluru, Feb 16: The National Latte Art Championship (NLAC) 2026 concluded its Semi-Finals and Finals today at the India International Coffee Festival (IICF) in Bengaluru, showcasing India’s most talented baristas in a three-day celebration of creativity, precision, and technical mastery.
Organised by Kaapi Machines under the guidance of the Coffee Board of India and World Coffee Events, NLAC 2026 brought together top national finalists selected from preliminary rounds across Mumbai, Bengaluru, in late 2025, and Delhi in 2026. Participants were judged on technical execution, symmetry, contrast, and consistency, with rounds including free-pour lattes, macchiatos, and designer latte art.
After intense competition, Anuj Kumar, from Roastery Coffee House, Delhi, was crowned National Latte Art Champion 2026 and will represent India at the World Latte Art Championship 2026 in San Diego, USA, further strengthening India’s presence on the global coffee competition circuit.
As the organiser of NLAC and a leading provider of advanced coffee equipment in India, Kaapi Machines hosted a dynamic, interactive booth at IICF that functioned as an open learning space for baristas, café owners, professionals, and enthusiasts. Through hands-on interactions and live brewing demonstrations, visitors gained insight into how brewing processes and extraction choices influence flavour, consistency, and cup quality, experienced temperature and pressure profiling on the Rancilio Specialty RS1, and participated in curated coffee sessions featuring single origins, milk-based blends, and short competition-style brews in collaboration with Axil Coffee.
Speaking about NLAC, Abhinav Mathur, Managing Director, Kaapi Machines, said,
“The championship reflects how far India’s barista skill landscape has progressed. Platforms like NLAC and IICF allow talent to be tested against international benchmarks while giving professionals the opportunity to learn, observe, and refine their craft. Seeing Indian baristas compete at this level and move on to global stages is a strong indicator of the maturity and potential of our coffee industry.”
The activations were designed to support skill development across experience levels, offering structured exposure for emerging professionals while enabling seasoned baristas and café operators to engage with advanced brewing technology adapted for Indian café environments. Together, the championship and on-ground demonstrations reinforced Kaapi Machines’ long-term role in enabling professional growth and technical excellence within India’s evolving coffee industry.