• Be aware of your scheduled competition time and make sure you are in the competition area at least 15 minutes before you are scheduled to start.
• If you are not present during your competition time, the MC will call your name twice. After this, the next alternate will take your space and you will not be eligible to continue in the competition.

• Wait until the last competitor is done cleaning and has collected their gear.
• Competitors are required to start with empty milk pitchers and may not practice on the equipment prior to the start of competition time.
• Milk can be staged in the original milk containers.
• Cups may also be staged anywhere by the plate under the camera.
• The two competitors will have a total have 2.5 minutes to pour and submit one milk drink.
• You may pour as many drinks in the time as you like or can but the drink must be touching the plate under the cameras before the 2.5 minutes have elapsed for it to be counted.
• If you do not make it in time, your opponent will automatically move on.

Each of the two stations are equipped with:

• One Synesso Hydra MVP
• 1 Espresso Grinder (Ceado e37T)
• Coffee
• 1 Tamper
• 1 Knock Box
• 12oz Milk Pitchers
• Whole Milk
• Bar Towels
• 3oz & 6oz Ceramic Cups

*Competitors are encouraged to bring their own tamper, milk pitcher, and cups

• Everything must remain unchanged.
• The espresso bar equipment is only to be used during competition time. At no point is anyone allowed to use the equipment after the competition for any reason outside of explicit permission give by Coffee Fest staff.

The Espresso Machine Will Be Pre-Calibrated to the Following Profile:

• 9 bars
• R/O water
• 200 F
• 18 grams in
• 32 grams out
• 28-second duration

• When you have finished you must walk your drink over to the judges table for scoring.
• Wait in the wings for the announcement of the round's winner.
• A runner will take the tray containing each pour to the center of the seated area for photos.
• Competitors may not touch or use the equipment after their allotted competition time is completed. Once a competitor's final drink is submitted, they may only use the equipment in order to clean their station. Competition are not free to make any additional drinks past their submitted pour.

Coffee Fest Latte Art World Championship Open & Qualifiers takes competitor disqualification or suspension very seriously and will not arrive upon a disqualification or suspension decision lightly. Any disqualification will be agreed upon by all judges and the Show Director. Please see the Code of Conduct page for information regarding causes for disqualifications or suspensions.

Should a competitor fail to show up, an alternate will be permitted to take their place. Alternates must attend the onsite Competitors' Meeting at the pre-determined time and location to receive their raffle ticket. Alternative will be selected at random by their raffle ticket number. Previous champions may not compete as alternates.

If a competitor is to pull from the competition after the bracket has been set or is not present for their match onsite, a "no-show" will be set against their record and may impact future competing opportunities. Any no-shows on the day of the competition without prior communication will be subjected to a 13-month suspension from the Latte Art World Championship Open & Qualifiers.

Each of the judges compares the drink presented by the two competitors in each match and award 1 point to the competitor with the best presentation in each of the seven categories. The competitor receiving the most points on each of the judge's scorecard will be the winner. The competitor will advance by virtue of the judge's scores of 3 to 0 sweep or 2 to 1.

• Speed: The competitor who places their drink down first so that it is touching the saucer wins the speed point. Making great latte art quickly is a necessary skill for a professional barista.
• Balance/Symmetry: This category refers to how the design sits in the cup. Depending on the classic understanding of the design being presented, it should be centered in the cup or balanced in relation to the edges of the cup. This is both an issue of precision and/or esthetic.
• Color Distribution: This category refers to the amount of layering and color being folded into the design from the center of the cup and out to the edges of the cup.
• Line Clarity: The lines of a design will be judged according to how crisp or sharp they are. Fuzzy or softer edges will lose to defined and clear lines. The design will be judged according to which pattern has the highest percentage of clear lines
• Creativity/Difficulty: This category relates to how the artist puts their personal touch on a latte art design compared to their opponent and common understanding of what that design's classic pattern is. The aspects of the design that are difficult must also be completed to a higher degree than what their opponent has presented.  
• Call Your Pour: Artists are required to submit a photo of their intended pours at least one week prior to the start of the competition.  This category refers to how closely the artist's submitted pour resembles the artist's photo submission.  If an artist fails to submit a photo, the point will automatically go to the competitor who did submit a photo.
• Presentation: This category is also related to what would be an unacceptable drink to present in a real cafe. If the edges of the cup are filthy, the drink is under poured or over poured the competitor will lose this point. If a competitor uses their own cup and it is chipped it will count against them. If both pours lack visible blemishes and are perfectly filled, judges will take into consideration milk texture and how the design has held up during judging. *Cups with markings for pouring aids will be counted against in this category.

Scoring:

1 Point per Category:

• Speed
• Balance/Symmetry
• Color Distribution
• Line Clarity
• Creativity/Difficulty
• Call Your Pour
• Presentation

Official Competitions - New York 2026 & Los Angeles 2026

• 1st Place - $6,000
• 2nd Place - $2,500
• 3rd Place - $1,500

Qualifier Competitions - Chicago 2026 & Dallas-Fort Worth 2026

• 1st Place - $500 travel voucher, two-night hotel stay, waived entry fee, top seed placement on bracket in next Official Competition
• 2nd Place - Two-night hotel stay, waived entry fee, top seed placement on bracket in next Official Competition
• 3rd Place - Waived entry fee, top seed placement on bracket in next Official Competition