National UAE Barista Championship to determine the country’s first-ever representative to the World Barista Championship

Published May 25th, 2009 - 20:42 GMT

Competition to be highlight of the inaugural 'Specialty Coffee & Tea Convention 2009' in Dubai

Organisers of the Specialty Coffee & Tea Convention 2009, the first international specialty 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 on November 12, 2009 at the Al Bustan Rotana Hotel Dubai. The winners will represent the UAE in the 2010 World Barista Championship (WBC) in London.

The National UAE Barista Championship is a major highlight of the Specialty Coffee & Tea Convention 2009 that hosts over 100 global companies showcasing the latest products, equipment and trends in the specialty coffee and tea industry.

The National UAE Barista Championship, the only barista competition in the region accredited by the WBC, has been organised in an effort to promote the growth, excellence and recognition of the Barista profession, while enhancing the knowledge and consumption of specialty 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 twelve drinks, during a period of fifteen minutes; and will be judged by four sensory judges, two technical judges and one head judge.

Anselm Godinho, Managing Director, International Conferences & Exhibitions (IC&E), organisers of the event said, "We have received tremendous response to this pioneering event, making it a perfect complement to the Specialty Coffee & Tea Convention 2009. The National UAE Barista Championship connects the country to an international network of specialty coffee experts and organisations through the World Barista Championship, which is the world's premier coffee competition that gathers participation from over 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 specialty 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 commented: “It is with great honour and pride that the Board of the World Barista Championships acknowledges the International Conferences & Exhibitions as the licensed National Body in the country of the United Arab Emirates, 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 Championships and that the winner of the competition will represent the UAE at the World Barista Championship held in London, June 2010.”

The Specialty Coffee & Tea Convention 2009 will run from November 10 to 12 at the Al Bustan Rotana Hotel in Dubai. Organised by the Specialty Coffee Association of America (SCAA) and IC&E, 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 LTD"is a non-profit organisation jointly owned by the SCAA and Speciality Coffee Association of Europe (SCAE). The first WBC 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