The second edition gathered together coffee professionals, traders, manufacturers, distributors, small and medium-sized companies, café owners, roasters, hotels, coffee lovers, tasters and baristas from around the world.
Besides showcasing the latest trends in coffee, the event featured the Best New Product competition, won by Latte Art Factory, and the Coffee Design Award, which was presented to The Espresso Lab. The UAE National Barista Championship was another crowd-pleaser, with Mariam Erin Pinza from Cosmic Garden Coffee Roastery grabbing the top spot.
The UAE National Barista Championship was another crowd-pleaser, with Mariam Erin Pinza from Cosmic Garden Coffee Roastery grabbing the top spot.
Other highlights included panel discussions on the latest techniques in preparing coffee beverages, as well as a series of lectures and workshops on innovation and manufacturing. Talks included: “The Future of Experimental Coffee in Kenya,” presented by Anatoli Korostelov, head of quality at iFest, Q-Grader; and “Grinding Technology,” by Felix Schmid, director of Helfezi AG & Yves. A workshop titled “Setting up a Lab: The Importance of a Q Program and New CQI Training Courses” also attracted a large audience.
About author
Rita Ghantous
Rita Ghantous is a hospitality aficionado and a passionate writer with over 9 years’ experience in journalism and 5 years experience in the hospitality sector. Her passion for the performance arts and writing, started early. At 10 years old she was praised for her solo performance of the Beatles song “All My Love” accompanied by a guitarist, and was approached by a French talent scout during her school play. However, her love for writing was stronger. Fresh out of school, she became a freelance journalist for Noun Magazine and was awarded the Silver Award Cup for Outstanding Poetry, by The International Library of Poetry (Washington DC). She studied Business Management and earned a Masters degree from Saint Joseph University (USJ), her thesis was published in the Proche-Orient, Études en Management book. She then pursued a career in the hospitality industry but didn’t give up writing, that is why she launched the Four Points by Sheraton Le Verdun Newsletter. Her love for the industry and journalism led her to Hospitality Services - the organizers of the HORECA trade show in Lebanon, Saudi Arabia, Kuwait and Jordan, as well as Salon Du Chocolat, Beirut Cooking Festival, Whisky Live and other regional shows. She is currently the Publications Executive of Hospitality News Middle East, Taste & Flavors and Lebanon Traveler. It is with ultimate devotion for her magazines that she demonstrates her hospitality savoir-faire.
