Shell Café has crowned Muhammad Al Syamil Muhammad Nasir as the winner of its inaugural Shell Café Barista Cup Malaysia 2026, following a competition that brought together 10 baristas from across the country to showcase their coffee-making skills and creativity. Held alongside Urbanscapes 2026, the competition gave Shell Café baristas an opportunity to demonstrate the craftsmanship and technical knowledge behind the coffee served at Shell stations nationwide. As the festival’s Official Coffee Partner, Shell Café used the occasion to highlight the people responsible for delivering its everyday coffee experience.
The competition featured several rounds of challenges, gradually narrowing the 10 participants down to five finalists. After the final rounds, Muhammad Al Syamil, representing Shell LPT 2 R&R Paka KT Bound, emerged as the inaugural champion. Muhammad Haziq Mohd Yusoff from Shell Bukit Jalil TPM secured second place, while Nurul Salfika Mohd Abijurini from Shell NSE Tanjung Malim North Bound finished third.
Participants were assessed on various aspects of coffee preparation, ranging from producing a quality espresso to developing their own signature beverages. Their creations were evaluated by a panel that included four-time Malaysia Barista Champion Jason Loo and two-time Malaysia Brewers Cup Champion Shaun Liew, alongside two representatives from Shell Malaysia.
Beyond determining the country’s top Shell Café barista, the competition was also designed to recognise the talent and dedication of employees who are often working behind the counter. For Shell Café, investing in barista development is part of its wider effort to maintain the quality of its coffee offerings while improving the customer experience.
Zairi Dzuljastri, General Manager of Shell Mobility & Convenience, Malaysia, said the competition was an opportunity to shine a spotlight on the individuals who contribute to the brand’s coffee experience. While many customers associate Shell Café with a convenient coffee stop during their daily commute or travels, he highlighted the importance of the people and skills involved in preparing each cup.
By providing opportunities for baristas to develop their abilities and gain recognition, Shell Café hopes to strengthen both its workforce and the experience customers receive at its outlets. For champion Muhammad Al Syamil, the victory represents an important achievement in a coffee career that began just two years ago. Starting as a junior barista at Shell Café, he gradually developed his skills through practical experience and training before progressing to his current position as a Barista Supervisor. The Barista Cup was also his first-ever competitive appearance.
His winning signature creation, named Jingle Zest, was developed with the intention of producing a drink that would appeal to a wide range of coffee drinkers. Al Syamil said the victory was particularly meaningful as it allowed him to make his family, Shell station and fellow Shell Café colleagues proud. He also hopes to continue improving his craft and take part in more competitions in the future.
Apart from the barista competition, Shell Café is using its participation at Urbanscapes 2026 to celebrate Malaysian creativity through a collaboration with local artists ThatDania and Graphnin. The partnership has produced four limited-edition coffee cup designs inspired by the city, with each artist contributing their own distinctive visual style.
The designs turn Shell Café’s everyday takeaway cups into a platform for local artistic expression, bringing together coffee culture and Malaysia’s creative community. Festival visitors can get their hands on the limited-edition cups at the Shell Café truck pop-up, which will also offer the brand’s coffee selections and festival-exclusive merchandise.
Shell Café’s involvement at Urbanscapes 2026 will continue over the festival’s remaining weekends, giving visitors more opportunities to experience its coffee offerings and creative collaborations. The Shell Café truck pop-up is scheduled to visit APW Bangsar on 7 November, followed by TRX Market Lane on 14 and 15 November.
Visitors can look forward to enjoying Shell Café beverages, collecting the limited-edition artist-designed cups and exploring the festival merchandise while taking a break from the various activities around Urbanscapes. Through the inaugural Barista Cup and its collaborations with local artists, Shell Café is highlighting two important elements of its brand experience: the people behind its coffee and the creativity found within the Malaysian community.
More information about Shell Café’s participation at Urbanscapes 2026 is available through its official Instagram page at https://www.instagram.com/shell_malaysia/.
