Battle of the Baristas: The Search for the Best Cup of Coffee in Dubai

Next week in Dubai, many of the Middle East and North Africa’s best baristas will gather at Speciality Food Festival’s Second MENA Cezve/Ibrik Championship, which will run from the 7th to the 9th at the Dubai World Trade Centre.

The twist in the competition, however, is that the region’s top coffee makers will only be preparing Cezve or Ibrik – commonly referred to as Turkish coffee – rather than their own cappuccino concoctions.

“Having debuted last year, the MENA Cezve/Ibrik Championship has emerged into a highly sought-after accolade for regional baristas. It’s very apt the competition has taken on such significance as the traditional Ibrik method of coffee preparation actually started in this region back in the 14th century,” explained David Veal, Speciality Coffee Association of Europe (SCAE)’s  Executive Director, who will be organizing the event.

According to EuroMonitor International, the UAE is now home to over 4,000 tea and coffee houses with one in every five adult residents drinking coffee daily. The Speciality Food Festival has attracted a host of international coffee, gourmet and organic food suppliers that view the MENA region as key growth territory over the next few years.

WE SAID THIS: We absolutely cannot wait for this!