Brewing Inspiration: 3rd HKCT Creative Coffee Competition showcases Innovation and Skills
The 3rd “HKCT Creative Coffee Competition,” organized by HKCT Institute of Higher Education and Hong Kong College of Technology (HKCT), was successfully held on June 20, 2026, at the Jockey Club Ma On Shan Campus.
The competition attracted over 30 enthusiastic secondary and tertiary students, including those enrolled in HKCT’s Applied Learning (ApL) programme in “Dessert and Café Operations” and the “Higher Diploma in Tourism Management (Culinary / Hospitality).”
The venue was filled with the rich aroma of coffee and youthful energy, as participants fully showcased their creativity, talent, and professional skills through latte art and beverage-mixing performances.
Applying What They’ve Learned, Nurturing Future Talent
The organizer invited distinguished guests to present awards to the winning students. Mr. Hung Chi-pan, Chief Curriculum Development Officer (Applied Learning) of the Education Bureau, commended the students for their composed performance and encouraged them to explore their development pathways through their studies. Meanwhile, Mr. Tang Wai-ming, Manager of the Hong Kong Qualifications Framework Secretariat, urged young people to unleash their boundless creativity and make good use of structured learning pathways to challenge themselves on broader stages.
The successful staging of this competition would not have been possible without the strong support of our professional judges and sponsoring organizations.
Mr. Hung Chi-pan (third from left), Chief Curriculum Development Officer (Applied Learning) of the Education Bureau, and Mr. Tang Wai-ming (second from right), Manager of the Hong Kong Qualifications Framework Secretariat, kindly took time out of their busy schedules to attend the event. They also served as award presenters, witnessing the participants' outstanding performances.
HKCT is committed to helping students find their direction through learning and grow through practice. In her speech, Ms. Li Wai-man, Senior Director (Higher Education) of HKCT, remarked that the successful staging of the competition was made possible by the longstanding and strong support and contributions of industry partners. This year, the number of supporting organizations increased to 18, further enhancing the event's scale and impact.
She encouraged students by emphasizing that the effort and dedication they invest in honing their skills outside class are their most valuable rewards. She also announced that HKCT will launch a brand-new Higher Diploma in Patisserie and Confectionery in September, further advancing vocational and professional education and providing students with clear pathways for further studies and future careers.
Ms. Huen Sau-wai, Head of the Hospitality Applied Learning Department, added that Applied Learning plays a vital role in helping senior secondary students make subject choices and determine their development pathways, enabling them to cultivate their strengths and interests. She expressed delight that the judges had to deliberate extensively when deciding the champion, reflecting the exceptionally high standard of the competition. She also hopes that students will have more opportunities to participate in future competitions and gain valuable experience.
She further thanked industry partners for their strong support, which enables HKCT’s programmes to stay aligned with professional standards and achieve effective integration of education and industry.
Integrating Knowledge and Practice, Unleashing Creativity
HKCT’s Applied Learning (ApL) programmes place strong emphasis on equipping students with career-related competencies. With a variety of learning activities, the programmes allow students to explore career pathways based on their interests. This event provided a valuable, industry-aligned practical platform for the “Dessert and Café Operations” course, effectively strengthening students’ professional skills.
Many participants started from scratch. In pursuit of perfect latte art, some even took the initiative to practise intensively in their own time, continuously refining their techniques and fully demonstrating their passion for the craft of coffee.
At the “3rd HKCT Creative Coffee Competition,” the stage was transformed into a vibrant celebration where youth and professionalism intertwined. In the “Secondary School – Latte Art Category,” participants were required to create a self-designed pattern within four minutes using steady and fluid milk-pouring techniques. Judges assessed entries rigorously based on criteria such as pattern recognizability, symmetry and placement, contrast and clarity, milk foam texture, and level of difficulty—comprehensively testing both fundamental skills and artistic aesthetics.
In the “Tertiary – Coffee Mixology Category,” contestants created two hot drinks and two cold drinks within 15 minutes, showcasing their creativity through flavour layering and innovative combinations. The venue was filled with the rich aroma of coffee, blended with youthful energy, fully reflecting students’ spirit of innovation and their ability to apply what they have learned in practice.
Honor Roll Announced, Joy Shared
After several rounds of intense competition and rigorous evaluation by the professional judging panel, the winners of each category were successfully announced.
In the “Secondary School – Latte Art Category,” the champion was Chan Chun-yin from St. Peter’s Secondary School. With his latte art creation featuring strong artistic flair and smooth, flowing lines, he stood out and claimed first place.
Having participated in the competition last year, Chan persevered and returned this year with renewed determination, ultimately achieving his goal with an outstanding result. Delighted with the outcome, he shared, “I’m very happy that my efforts have paid off. In the future, whether choosing my field of study or planning my career, I aim to become an excellent barista. I will continue to join competitions and hope to achieve even better results in latte art.”
In the “Tertiary – Coffee Mixology Category,” Ho Tsz-chun, a Year 1 student of the Higher Diploma in Tourism Management (Hotel Hospitality) at HKCT, emerged as the champion. His creation received unanimous praise from the judges for its harmonious flavour profile and innovative concept.
Winning the championship on his first attempt, Ho expressed great surprise and delight: “This journey has given me a deeper understanding of coffee. The craft of coffee-making is profound. During the development process, I encountered bottlenecks when the final product did not meet my expectations. Fortunately, with the guidance of my instructor and repeated refinements, I was able to overcome these challenges.”
He also expressed gratitude for the opportunity to compete alongside his practice partners, noting that the shared experience made the achievement even more meaningful.
The “3rd HKCT Creative Coffee Competition” not only showcased technical excellence but also served as a platform for inspiring creativity and sharing knowledge and skills. It fostered interaction and exchange between students and industry professionals, fully reflecting HKCT’s dedication and effectiveness in nurturing talent for the food and beverage industry.
【附錄】港專第三屆創意咖啡比賽得獎名單：
大專「咖啡調飲組」
冠軍： 旅遊業管理高級文憑（酒店款待）一年級 何梓俊
優異*： 旅遊業管理高級文憑（西式廚藝）一年級 張玨
旅遊業管理高級文憑（酒店款待）一年級 黃旭
高中「咖啡拉花組」
冠軍：聖伯多祿中學 陳俊言
亞軍：佛教沈香林紀念中學 陳佩盈
季軍*：佛教沈香林紀念中學 陳遨瑤
創知中學 邱樂希
優異*：聖公會基孝中學 戴穎心
聖公會聖三一堂中學 黎庭慧
嶺南衡怡紀念中學 黃子琳
中華基督教會燕京書院 郭家熙
（*排名不分先後）
HKCT Related Programmes:
Higher Diploma in Tourism Management (Culinary)
https://www.hkct.edu.hk/programmes/culinary-and-food-beverage-services/higher-diploma-tourism-management-culinary
Higher Diploma in Tourism Management (Hospitality)
https://www.hkct.edu.hk/programmes/tourism-aviation-hospitality/higher-diploma-tourism-management-hospitality
Higher Diploma in Patisserie and Confectionery
https://www.hkct.edu.hk/tc/programmes/culinary-and-food-beverage-services/higher-diploma-patisserie-confectionery
Diploma of Applied Education [Café and Pâtisserie Operations]
https://hkctdae.edu.hk/programmes/hotel-and-tourism-recreation-and-leisure/diploma-applied-education-ft-cafe-patisserie-operations
Certificate in Patisserie and Café Operations (Senior Secondary Applied Learning)
https://www.hkct.edu.hk/tc/programmes/culinary-and-food-beverage-services/apl-patisserie-cafe
