Best barista brews to beat
Organisers of the Speciality Coffee and Tea Convention 2009, the first international speciality coffee and tea event crafted for the Arab World, have announced that six of the UAE's best baristas will compete in the first-ever National UAE Barista Championship.
The winners will represent the UAE in the 2010 World Barista Championship in London.
The National UAE Barista Championship is a major highlight of the Speciality Coffee and Tea Convention 2009 that hosts more than 100 international companies showcasing the latest products, equipment and trends in the speciality coffee and tea industry.
The National UAE Barista Championship, the only barista competition in the region accredited by World Barista Championship, has been organised in an effort to promote the growth, excellence and recognition of the barista profession, while enhancing the knowledge and consumption of speciality coffee among consumers in the UAE and the Arab region.
Competitors will be required to serve each of the four sensory judges a single espresso, a single cappuccino and a signature beverage of his/her choice (espresso-based and alcohol free) for a total of 12 drinks, during a period of 15 minutes. They will be judged by four sensory judges, two technical judges and one head judge.
Anselm Godinho, Managing Director, International Conferences and Exhibitions (ICE), organisers of the event, said: "We have received tremendous response to this pioneering event, making it a perfect complement to the Speciality Coffee and Tea Convention 2009. The National UAE Barista Championship connects the country to an international network of speciality coffee experts and organisations through the World Barista Championship, which is the world's premier coffee competition that gathers participants from more than 50 countries.
"The National UAE Barista Championship will enable coffee enthusiasts to better appreciate the technical skills, knowledge and training required to create their favourite speciality beverages. The event's champion will have the privilege of becoming the World Barista Championship's first-ever representative from the UAE."
Cindy Chang, Executive Director of the World Barista Championship, said: "It is with great honour and pride that the Board of the World Barista Championships acknowledges International Conferences and Exhibitions as the licensed national body in the UAE to host the National UAE Barista Championship 2010. It is understood that this competition will be held within the guidelines and in accordance with the rules and regulations of the World Barista Championship and that the winner of the competition will represent the UAE at the World Barista Championship in London in June 2010."
The Speciality Coffee and Tea Convention 2009 will take place later in the at the Al Bustan Rotana Hotel in Dubai.
Organised by the Speciality Coffee Association of America and ICE, the event is expected to draw the largest gathering of coffee and tea traders, consumers and professionals from the Middle East and other international markets. The convention will feature a focused exhibition, a high-profile conference, targeted educational sessions and workshops, and a wide range of opportunities for networking, business sourcing and market intelligence.
The World Barista Championship is a non-profit organisation jointly owned by the SCAA and Speciality Coffee Association of Europe. The first competition took place in Monte Carlo in October 2000 and has since held annual competitions in Miami, Oslo, Boston, Trieste, Seattle, Berne, Tokyo and Copenhagen.
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