Cash-strapped baristas now have a chance to take advantage of discounted fee to showcase their world-class skills at an international coffee and tea festival to be held in October in Dubai.

IC&E, organiser of the International Coffee & Tea Festival 2013, plan to level playing field for talented but low-paid baristas at UAE Barista & Latte Art Championships by announcing marked down fee.

The UAE Barista & Latte Art Championships are highly anticipated events within the annual International Coffee & Tea Festival, the upcoming edition of which will run from October 8 to 11, at the Meydan Grandstand and Convention Centre in Dubai.

Being a completely mission-driven initiative, the UAE Barista & Latte Art Championships are an entirely not-for-profit feature of the festival, with proceeds from contestant registration fees funded back into set-up costs. Registration fees are meant to ensure the championships take place on the highest standards and to fly in judges from various different countries to be on the judging panel.

The competitions are recognised and endorsed by the Specialty Coffee Association of America (SCAA) and World Coffee Events. World Coffee Events Certified Guest Judges from around the world assess the performance of contestants based on structured criteria such as taste, cleanliness, technical skill and overall presentation.

Ryan Godinho, event director of the International Coffee & Tea Festival said, “We as organisers empathise with the difficulties low-paid Baristas are faced with and would like to acknowledge their talent at an equal and non-discriminatory platform, by offering them this opportunity.

“A recent international survey conducted reveals that UAE baristas are second from last out of 14 of the world's most cosmopolitan countries that boast an active café culture.  The survey reveals that UAE-based baristas earn an average of $880 a month as opposed to Norway where the average barista earns $3,585 a month and Australia where a head barista earns an average of $4,220 a month.  This trend has a direct correlation to the social standing, quality and diversity of the café industry in these top two countries, with Australia taking the lead in offering the most refined and thriving café culture.”

The championships are also an important stepping stone for baristas to prove their skills and grow further within their profession as well as to gain valuable international exposure.

This experience in the world of specialty coffee should also be harvested as an unprecedented skill building exercise for baristas and their employers.  This, in turn, would be the driving force behind the development of a more specialist and higher quality café culture within the UAE.

“This year’s National Barista & Latte Art Championships will reveal even more promising individuals now that we have adjusted our registration scheme. We are excited to pave the way for better opportunities and a brighter future for local baristas. Moreover, a more competitive field will give the UAE a better shot at making a strong mark at the World Barista Championships where the country’s entry this year placed among the top 30,” said Godinho. - TradeArabia News Service