Latte Art Throwdown by Napolact
Get ready for coffee culture in its most entertaining form
A two-day, head-to-head competition featuring 16 competitors per category, in a single-elimination bracket format.
You’re paired against one opponent. You pour at the same time, in maximum 3 minutes. Judges point.
Win your battle and you move forward.
2 Days. 2 competitions. 4 rounds each: round of 16, quarterfinals, semifinals, finals.
Patterns are revealed on the day of the competition, one round at a time. The battle order is drawn before the competition begins.
Two levels of difficulty. Two ways to enter the ring:
Community Throwdown
Industry Throwdown
Coffee will be provided by us.
Milk is supplied by Napolact.
Community Throwdown
Who can join
Home baristas and coffee enthusiasts who do not work in the coffee industry. If you earn income from coffee-related work, you can join the Industry competition.
How to join
The are only 16 spots available. Secure yours by registering through the link below. No entry fees. No fuss.
Judging criteria
Contrast
Symmetry
Cleanliness
Overall visual impact
What’s at stake? Bragging rights, a place in the COFFeEAST history books and prizes worth pouring for.
The 2027 prizes and registration details will be announced soon.
The 2026 champion: Carmen Mesca!
Industry Throwdown
Who can join
Active coffee industry professionals, including baristas, trainers, coffee shop owners and competitors. This competition follows the same single-elimination, head-to-head format but may introduce theme pours in the semifinals and finals.
How to join
The are only 16 spots available. Secure yours by registering through the link below. No entry fees. No fuss.
Judging criteria
Contrast
Symmetry
Difficulty
Line definition
Clean execution
Overall balance
What’s at stake? The title, the glory, the crowd and prizes worth competing for. The 2027 prizes and registration details will be announced soon.
The 2026 champion: Alexandru Diaconescu!
1st edition, 2026
The stellar line-up of judges
Arnon Thitiprasert
Founder, Roast8ry Coffee Lab | World Latte Art Champion
Arnon is a name that carries weight on the global competition stage. 2017 World Latte Art Champion and multiple-time world and national champion, he has spent over a decade building both titles and legacy. Founder of Roast8ry Coffee Lab in Thailand, he blends competition excellence with visionary entrepreneurship.
Alan Jarrar
Career barista | CEO at Jokes Aside Coffee Roasters & STAV SE Espresso bar
„Sometimes competitor, sometimes judge but always judging.” Alan is a coffee powerhouse with an eye for precision and a taste for perfection. Whether he’s coaching baristas or fine-tuning extractions, he’s always raising the bar.
Davide Orazi
New York Coffee Masters Champion | Project & Community Manager, WatchHous | Coffee Masters Judge
A competitor, judge, and coffee operations expert, Davide brings nearly a decade of specialty coffee experience. Committed to excellence in every aspect of the coffee journey, he combines deep technical knowledge with a commitment to fostering community within the specialty coffee scene.
Marius Nica
Head Roaster & Co-Founder, Olivo Coffee Culture | National Champion
Active in specialty coffee since 2012, Marius is a multi-time national champion in Latte Art and Cup Tasters – and the current Romanian National Roasting Champion. As Head Roaster and Co-Founder of Olivo Coffee Culture in Cluj-Napoca, he combines competition experience with deep sensory expertise.
Paul Copăceanu
Founder, Heart It | Coffee Roaster & Trainer, Madison Coffee Roasters
Paul moves seamlessly between competition, roasting, and education. National Vice-Champion in Latte Art and AeroPress, he brings both technical skill and stage experience to the jury table. As Founder of Heart It and a dedicated trainer, he’s passionate about elevating coffee through connection, craft, and community.
1st edition, 2026
The crew
Liviu Frățilă
MC | Founder of Espressoman.ro | Espresso Enthusiast & Coffee Community Builder
Liviu has been talking about espresso for more than a decade – and luckily for all of us, he decided to put it on the internet. Through Espressoman.ro, he built one of Romania’s longest-running communities dedicated to espresso, coffee equipment and the people passionate enough to discuss extraction parameters at length. He’s been with COFFeEAST since day one, so by now, being on our stage is practically part of the job description.
Adelina Elena Stan
Stage Manager | Company Trainer & Quality Control, Crosby Coffee Roasters | Q Arabica Grader
Seven years in specialty coffee, a journey from Romania to Central America and now Liverpool, with plenty of barista work, training, consulting and coffee farm experience along the way. Adelina brings a sharp eye for quality and a very practical understanding of what happens behind the bar.