Grand Showdown: National Barista, Latte Art, Women’s Star Brewer, Filter Coffee, and Fine Cup Award Championships at 5th World Coffee Conference 2023

Bengaluru: The International Coffee Organization (ICO), in partnership with the Coffee Board of India, Ministry of Commerce and Industry, Government of India, the Government of Karnataka, and the coffee industry, is proud to host the National Latte Art, Barista, Filter Coffee, Women’s Star Brewer and Fine Cup Award Championships as part of the 5th World Coffee Conference 2023. The preliminary rounds saw enthusiastic participation from 400+ contestants representing cities such as Delhi, Mumbai, and Bengaluru with 52 emerging as semifinalists. The climactic finals for all four championships are scheduled for September 26th-28th, 2023. The participants are judged on their skills and presentation by the judges representing from global coffee industry, Indian Coffee Industry as well as Coffee Research.
 

The National Barista Championship is a prestigious competition designed to recognize the most technically proficient and talented baristas in the field. It is dedicated to promoting excellence throughout the entire coffee value chain, fostering skill development, and cultivating a thriving café culture in India. This championship serves as an inspiring platform for elevating the art of coffee brewing, motivating passionate baristas to refine their skills through an exhilarating and demanding competition. With participation from nearly 100+ participants representing Delhi & Bengaluru cities in the National Barista Championship, the winner of the National Barista Championship will have the honor of representing India on the international stage at the World Barista Championship, organized by World Coffee Events.
 

The National Latte Art Championship is making its debut in India, bringing an exciting blend of artistic expression and barista skill to the forefront. This unique competition challenges baristas with on-the-spot performances that showcase their creativity and precision. During the preliminary round, baristas craft a single creative latte pattern at the Art Bar, then transition to the WLAC stage, where they create two identical free-pour lattes and two identical designer lattes, allowing for etching and decoration. Scores from both the Art Bar and the Stage are combined, with the top 12 contestants advancing to the semi-finals. From there, the top six semi-finalists qualify for the final round, where they are tasked with creating two distinct matching sets of free-pour latte patterns and one matching set of designer lattes.
 

Impressively, nearly 162 participants hailing from Delhi, Mumbai & Bengaluru cities participated in the Latte Art Championship. The ultimate victor of this national event will proudly represent India at the World Latte Art Championship, hosted by World Coffee Events.
 

At the Women's Star Brewer Skills Championship, female baristas and home brewers will proudly display their coffee brewing prowess, demonstrating their skills on equipment such as the 'AeroPress.' Additionally, participants will craft a 'Signature Beverage' utilizing home brewing equipment. This championship centers around the theme of coffee preparation using home brewing gear and stands out as a unique competition exclusively for women baristas and home brewers. The championship offers an enticing prize: the winner will receive an air ticket to explore a coffee-consuming country, providing an invaluable opportunity to further enhance the brewing skills and deepen the knowledge of coffee. Remarkably, nearly 65 women from all corners of the country participated in this category.
 

The Great Indian Filter Coffee Championship is a celebration of traditional Indian coffee craftsmanship, designed to promote and nurture the art of brewing the quintessential Filter Kaapi. It inspires participants to master the intricacies of this brew, from achieving the perfect balance of coffee grounds, water temperature, to mastering the ideal brewing time.
 

Distinguished judges evaluate each entry based on its aroma, taste, body, and presentation, ensuring that the true essence of Filter Kaapi is brilliantly captured. The champion of this competition earns the prestigious title of "Great Indian Filter Coffee Champion.” Over 100 participants from cities across India are expected to participated in this flavorful journey.
 

The Flavour of India - The Fine Cup Award Cupping Competition has a mission to award the production of high-quality coffees in India. This competition serves as a catalyst, inspiring coffee growers to cultivate exceptional coffee beans that undergo rigorous evaluation.
A panel of expert Coffee Cup Tasters meticulously assesses the samples for cup quality, ensuring that only the finest coffees make the cut. The winning coffees from various coffee-growing regions across India will take center stage at the prestigious WCC 2023. Impressively, nearly 1758 coffee samples have been submitted for this esteemed competition.

 
Reflecting on the championship's advancements, Dr. Mandappa, Divisional Head- Coffee Quality, Coffee Board of India, said, "As Bengaluru gears up for the upcoming World Coffee Conference 2023, these championships are setting the stage for this prestigious event. India's coffee culture is undergoing a remarkable transformation, marked by a significant increase in coffee consumption and brewing activity. Over the past month, we've observed a substantial surge in registrations for these championships, especially among the younger generation, underscoring a notable shift in the preferences of Indian coffee enthusiasts.
 

“Today's youth are wholeheartedly embracing a diverse array of coffee varieties and post-harvest processing methods and this dynamic evolution within the coffee landscape is opening up exciting new prospects."