The Speciality Food Festival Hosts 1st UAE National Barista & Latte Art Championship

The Specialty Food Festival 2017, taking place at the Dubai World Trade Centre (DWTC) from 18-20 September, will feature the United Arab Emirates (UAE) first ever National Barista & Latte Art Championship.

Showcasing the tremendous growth in the specialty coffee scene across the Middle East, the inaugural National Barista & Latte Art Championship will be held to crown the UAE’s top baristas. Certified by World Coffee Events (WCE) and organized by the Specialty Coffee Association UAE Chapter (SCA/UAE), the championship will see the UAE’s best baristas prepare coffee in a rigorous and demanding competition format that puts their knowledge and coffee expertise on full display.

Over the past few years, there were has been tremendous growth in the specialty coffee scene in the Middle East and the UAE has played a leading role for in promoting Specialty Coffee Culture. To augment and amplify the UAE’s role, the SCA has supported the local UAE coffee community by through the formation of the first SCA chapter in the region. The SCA/UAE is also supported by the Government of Dubai, and the DWTC by providing a world class and state-of-the-art venue to highlight UAE Coffee Companies and suppliers in exhibiting their latest and innovative products and accessories.

“The SCA/UAE’s mission is to work side by side with key stakeholders in coffee industry to improve and promote all aspects of specialty coffee with an expectation of an increase in the knowledge base and expertise that will accrue tremendous benefits to the coffee industry as whole,” says Khalid Al Mulla, national coordinator SCA/UAE Chapter.

Held during Dubai International Hospitality Week, the 8th edition of the Speciality Food Festival, powered by Gulfood, is co-located with five other shows under the roof of Dubai International Hospitality Week (DIHW) – an initiative endorsed by Dubai’s Department of Tourism and Commerce Marketing (Dubai Tourism). The other five shows are DWTC’s new GulfHost 2017 (the first dedicated hospitality and food services expo in the Middle East); yummex Middle East (jointly organised by DWTC and Kölnmesse) SEAFEX Middle East (organised by DWTC) and The Hotel Show and The Leisure Show (which are owned and organised by dmg events).

Putting skills to the test, the baristas will be tested in a number of areas, including:

  • National Barista Championship: Each competitor must serve four espressos, four milk beverages in 10 minutes on the first round. As for the semi-final and final competitors, they must serve four espressos, four milk beverages and four signature drinks in 15 minutes.
  • National Latte Art Championship: Competitors will demonstrate their skills in three separate rounds: a preliminary, semi-final, and final round. During the preliminary round, there are two components: ART BAR, where a single creative pattern is produced. STAGE PRESENTATION, where two matching free-pour lattes and two matching designers lattes are produced.

There will be an independent panel of judges, consisting of local and international judges to evaluate and crown the top baristas in the UAE. The participants’ brews will be rated on criteria including taste, beverage presentation, and technique. The winner of the National Barista & Latte Art Championship will represent the UAE when the World Barista & Latte Art Championships are staged at in Amsterdam in June 2018.

For more information, visit: http://www.speciality.ae/.

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