The upcoming International Coffee & Tea Festival (ICTF) in Dubai, UAE has extended its scope with the offering of advanced workshops and SCAA-certified training programmes for coffee professionals and businesses.

The seventh edition of the event will be held from November 11 to 13 at The Meydan Gallery and Convention Center.

Training programmes at the ICTF are certified by the world’s largest trade association for specialty coffee – the Specialty Coffee Association of America (SCAA). SCAA Certified Instructors, who have completed all components of the SCAA’s Instructor Development Program, will administer the workshops and certifications that are designed for beginners, intermediate and advanced professionals, a statement said.

Through the right blend of coffee science and hands-on training, the courses offer a widely accepted formal qualification that will help the participants to progress within the international coffee industry.

Ryan Godinho, UAE’s National Liaison for World Coffee Events and Special Events coordinator (Training & Championships) with ICTF, said: “As the demand for high-quality coffee made from well-roasted coffee beans rises in the UAE, the time has come to differentiate between a barista from a coffee maker. Intensive training and hands-on experience in roasting, grinding, extracting, and frothing transforms a coffeemaker into a professional barista.”

“ICTF 2015 will continue to address the growing demand for quality and service through a series of training programs in coffee preparation, coffee grading, and coffee roasting. The sessions will ensure that participants get a deeper insight about the art of coffee making that involves buying the right beans, roasting and grinding them to retain freshness, and brewing to perfection.

“Through our ongoing interaction with the coffee and tea fraternity with initiatives such as Coffee Training & Workshops, the Coffee Championships and the formation of the Barista community, ICTF will continue to contribute to the prolific tea and coffee industry of the UAE and the region,” concluded Godinho.

The International Coffee & Tea Festival is supported by the SCAA and World Coffee Events (WCE). It is the UAE’s only dedicated exhibition that showcases specialty coffee and tea products from around the world and attracts industry professionals from across the Mena region and the Indian sub-continent. – TradeArabia News Service