Brewing Brilliance: The Barista Craft Championship Heats Up
Celebrating the Creativity and Talent of the Barista Community
The DaVinci Gourmet Barista Craft Championship took off with an overwhelming response from the barista community. The sheer number of entries DaVinci received is nothing short of inspiring. It’s a clear testament to the creativity, passion, and dedication that baristas across the region bring to their craft every single day. It’s evident that for these talented individuals, coffee isn’t just a beverage—it’s an evolving art form.
Earlier today, I had a conversation with a well-respected leader in the United Arab Emirates’ specialty coffee industry. He told me that the Barista Craft Championship is the talk of the town, and honestly, I couldn’t agree more. The excitement surrounding this competition is palpable, and it’s incredible to witness how it’s energizing the community and encouraging baristas to push the boundaries of their craft.
Announcing the Finalists
After an intense round of preliminary judging, these are the exceptional individuals who have risen to the top with their exceptional coffee creations. The finalists who will be competing in the Middle East finals are:
Doriz Anne H. Malanguis, BLVD on ONE (FIVE PALM JUMEIRAH DUBAI)
Rafael Escobido, Dunkin
Kevin Castaneda, Cherry Beans Specialty Coffee and Roastery
Samson Kibunja, Baitna Cafe
Nestor Llorca, Greenbay Coffee
Kiah Parangue, Goldbox Roastery Dubai
Nelson Lontoc Allado, Costa Coffee dnata Building
Cheryl, Orbis Coffee
Eduardo Inocencio, Honoroast
The Crazy Freak, Black Haze
These talented baristas have already shown incredible skill and creativity in the preliminary rounds. Now, they will take the stage in the Middle East finals to demonstrate their prowess in crafting both hot and cold coffee-based beverages using DaVinci Gourmet products.
It promises to be a fantastic event at the Media One Hotel on 4 September 2024.
Competition Structure
To recap, the championship began with Middle East preliminary rounds in over 20 countries, including Turkey, the United Arab Emirates, the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, Oman, Bahrain, Qatar, Kuwait, Lebanon, and Egypt.
In the initial stage, baristas were invited to submit a coffee-based beverage featuring at least one DaVinci Gourmet product via digital submission. These submissions were judged on a 20-point system, with criteria that assess the creativity, presentation, and flavor profile of each beverage.
"Up to 10 finalists from each participating country were selected to compete in the finals, with face-to-face contests taking place across August and September 2024. In this round, baristas will be asked to create one hot and one cold coffee-based beverage, using at least one DaVinci Gourmet product in each,” said Glenda Pataray, DaVinci’s Brand Ambassador.
What’s at Stake
All finalists will be rewarded for making it to the next round, but the prizes only get better from there. The top three baristas in each country will be crowned, with third place receiving USD 500, second place USD 1,000, and first place USD 2,000. On top of that, first-place winners will be flown to Singapore, with accommodations provided, to compete in the grand regional final.
The Barista Craft Championship will culminate at the Food and Hotel Asia HoReCa trade show in Singapore from October 23 to 24. Here, representatives from each competing country will present their winning hot and cold beverages to a panel of judges.
“There will be three winners, with first place receiving USD 3,000 and a coffee experience trip to Korea,” added Pataray. “We’re offering some great prizes and hope to attract new talent across the region.”
Investing in Barista Talent
I’ve always believed that investing in baristas is essential to nurturing the future of coffee culture. The Barista Craft Championship isn’t just a competition—it’s a platform that recognizes and elevates the craftsmanship that goes into every cup of coffee. DaVinci Gourmet is leading the charge by fostering a community that values creativity, skill, and innovation.
I’m genuinely excited to see where this journey takes us as a coffee community and can’t wait for the next stages of the competition. Stay tuned to for more updates as we continue to celebrate the artistry of coffee and the brilliant baristas who make it possible.
For more information, visit DaVinci Gourmet and follow DaVinci Gourmet Arabia on Instagram.