Diego Huillca, barista: "Coffee is not just a beverage. It is a purpose and a social responsibility"

The founding partner of the prestigious Cusco specialty coffee shop Three Monkeys will represent Peru in the World Latte Art Championship in California. Diego Huillca's triumph in the 2025 National Latte Art Championship is not an isolated event or the result of chance. It is the result of a long, methodical, and deeply reflective process about the barista's craft, the role of coffee in society, and the need to build community from knowledge and purpose. From Cusco, Huillca—a barista and founding partner of Three Monkeys, one of the most renowned specialty coffee shops in the country and among the best in the world—is preparing to take the leap onto the international stage with a demanding routine and a clear vision of what it means to compete, serve coffee, and communicate through the cup. This passionate and detail-oriented young man from Cusco will represent Peru in April at the World Latte Art Championship in San Diego, California. How is the training going?—Very well. Right ...