The International Coffee and Tea Festival (ICTF), the only dedicated trade event for the coffee and tea industry in the Middle East, is bringing four of the world’s best baristas, brewers and a latte artist to the UAE to participate in the trade show’s first World Coffee Events’ ‘All Stars’ activity.

During the show, which is taking place from November 12 to 14 at the Meydan Gallery, champions Hidenori Izaki, Stefanos Domatiotis, Christos Loukakis, and Gwilym Davies will display their expert coffee-making skills, demonstrate their in-demand performances, join insightful coffee talk show interviews and compete in exciting pop quiz contests.

These ‘All Stars’ will not only make their best coffee beverages in various entertaining head-to-head challenges, but they will also engage with the audience for autographs and photo opportunities. A few lucky fans will also be given a chance to team up with the award-winning baristas for a fun pop quiz challenge. Other interactive activities will include the ‘Mystery Espresso Challenge,’ the ‘Mystery Cappuccino Challenge,’ the ‘Coffee and Chocolate Pairing,’ and the ‘Mystery Ingredient Challenge,’ a contest between two ‘All-Stars’ who will attempt to create the best tasting signature beverages made special with mystery ingredients.

These four award-winning baristas are globally renowned for their distinct talents in coffee making, leading them to win numerous awards in various global competitions. Izaki bagged the top prize at the current 2014 World Barista Championship (WBC), while Davies was declared the 2009 World Barista Champion. Domatiotis who won the 2014 World Brewers Cup Championship also holds multiple other titles inclusive of 2012 WBC finalist, a seven-time WBC competitor, a two-time World Latte Art Championship (WLAC) finalist and a 2014 WBC champion. Lastly, Loukakis was a 2014 WBC finalist, a 2013 WBrC finalist, and a 2011 WLAC winner.

Ryan Godinho, UAE’s national body liaison for World Coffee Events and special events coordinator (training and championships), ICTF, said:  “We are extremely happy and privileged to host “All Stars” in association with World Coffee Events at the sixth edition of ICTF this year, where these world-famous baristas can truly represent the wonders of coffee-preparation through on-stage demonstrations and engage with UAE’s local coffee community by way of the various interactive activities planned at the show. This will give our visitors a chance to watch them in action as they prepare the best tasting coffee beverages and will also serve as an inspirational professional development initiative for HORECA professionals, from wait staff and baristas to training and F&B managers alike. Furthermore, the ‘All Stars’ and our attendees will have the opportunity to interact with each other and share their experiences and a common passion for coffee. This is the first time in the history of the show that we are introducing the ‘All Stars’ activity as part of our move to further engage the local coffee community and build a lasting relationship with our target market. This is just the start of us holding similar entertaining, high-profile activities in the future, in our bid to stimulate more interest in the regional coffee industry.”     

Supported by World Coffee Events (WCE) and the Specialty Coffee Association of America (SCAA), the world’s largest trade association dedicated to the recognition, development and promotion of specialty coffee, the International Coffee and Tea Festival is the one-stop destination for all facets of coffee, tea and café products, equipment and services in the Middle East. It attracts industry professionals from GCC territories, the Levant region, North and South Africa, the Caspian region, Iran, and the Indian sub-continent. – TradeArabia News Service