A senior barista from Benchmark Coffee has secured the top title at the UAE National Latte Art Competition 2026, emerging as champion during the national championships held in January at the Dubai World Trade Centre.
Jhomar Morales, 31, was named winner in the latte art category during the UAE National Barista, Latte Art, and Roasting Championships staged from January 18 to 20 as part of World of Coffee Dubai 2026. The event brought together baristas from across the country to compete in disciplines that test precision, symmetry, contrast, technical execution, and overall presentation in milk-and-espresso artistry.
Reflecting on the moment his name was announced, Morales described the experience as overwhelming.
“When my name was announced as the champion of the UAE National Latte Art Competition 2026, everything felt surreal. For a few seconds, I couldn’t move. I just remembered all the early mornings, the failed pours, the pressure, the self-doubt, and the sacrifices. I felt overwhelming gratitude for everyone who supported me, especially my teams from Benchmark Coffee and Archers Coffee. Both companies always provided a platform for us employees to hone our skills as coffee people, not just baristas in hospitality, who contribute to a wider community with a passion for this craft. That moment wasn’t just about winning. It was proof that believing in practice and team effort will lead you to be better,” he shared with TGFM.
Morales credited his daily responsibilities at Benchmark Coffee as a key factor in preparing him for competition. Working in a high-volume café environment, he said, required discipline, time management, and consistency — qualities that translated directly to the competition stage.
The national contest evaluated participants on technical accuracy and artistic interpretation, with stage presence posing one of the most demanding aspects for Morales. While technical skills can be refined through repetition, he said performing under scrutiny required mental preparation, including timed practice runs and simulated competition pressure.
His winning presentation drew inspiration from childhood films and early interests in drawing. Morales said his routine reflected his progression from sketching characters on paper to expressing stories through milk and espresso, using the cup as a canvas.
“Today, instead of using paper and pencils, I use espresso and milk as my canvas. My competition routine was a reflection of that journey — transforming childhood imagination into refined craftsmanship on a cup. Each design symbolized how my art evolved over time, from drawing on paper to expressing stories through latte art.”
Morales’ career shift began in 2018 when he met Frederick Bejo, founder of Archers Coffee and Benchmark Coffee. At the time working as a waiter, Morales was introduced to the technical and creative dimensions of specialty coffee and was encouraged to pursue competition — an idea he had not previously considered.
The UAE National Latte Art Competition required participants to have at least two years of UAE residency and membership with the Specialty Coffee Association UAE. Morales placed first in the latte art division, ahead of Mark Lyster Gimeno of Heaf and Win Min Htike of Jebena Specialty Coffee.
The championship was staged during World of Coffee Dubai 2026, one of the region’s major specialty coffee exhibitions, where national winners were determined under internationally aligned judging standards.
