3rd African Barista Challenge

Following two successful competitions, AFCA now scheduled to hold the 3rd African Barista Challenge in Addis Ababa Ethiopia, the legendary home of Coffee from the 16th to the 18th February 2012 at the United Nations Convention Centre. The Competition that brings together Africa’s Top Champion Baristas is the only event of this kind on the Continent.

Events Objectives 

• Providing a forum to get all the African representatives trained together and sharing their expertise, skills and experiences
• Improving the individual performances of the baristas
• Enhancing teamwork with all players in the coffee value chain within which the baristas operate.
• Improving the retail end of the value chain through competitiveness among baristas and hence higher quality of expertise, service and coffee products in the retail sector.

The ABC competition has a comprehensive nature and weights the different categories of the competition according to importance and relevance. It is hoped to enhance team work among the African representatives and ensure deeper knowledge and exposure, leading to better performance at the World Barista Championships.

Feedback from sponsors coffee experts and enthusiasts from the 2nd ABC:

“The lesson I took away from this trip is that even though the African barista community is under served in terms of resources to learn and train with, the passion is there, the industry at retail is just young still. I am still baffled as to why the Americas have not caught on to how good of an idea events like this are…  The Nordic, Euro and Africa barista communities all have something now… time to catch up!”
Michael Phillips, Director of Education Intelligentsia Coffee & Tea, Inc, World Barista Champion 2010.

“Congrats on an inspiring and well planned out event. One all interested in quality coffees should participate in. We at La Marzocco are proud to be a part in fact"
Guido Bernardinelli, Managing Director La Marzocco srl

“The Coffee Quality Institute (CQI) has been involved with the Africa Barista Championship and National Africa barista events for a number of years. The barista movement has an important impact in Africa to increase local consumption and awareness of coffee quality to the world, especially with the tourism industry. The ABC is the culmination of this annually and brings the coffee world closer to knowing Africa coffee qualities, which ultimately leads to higher prices and income to the producers”.  David Roche, CQI Technical Director

“I feel that AFCA should bring all national bodies or organizing committees onto the ABC board, to be members of the organizing team and allow local judges to participate as a way of improving their capacity and preparation for WBC certification” Edmund Kananura, Senior Quality Controller, Uganda Coffee Development Authority

These activities recognize and reward the skills excellence of baristas, which will lead to better quality coffee overall.  The environment provides them with a chance to meet with colleagues and share their experiences.
Cindy Chang, Managing Director, World Coffee Events

“AFCA is proud of having held the 2nd Africa Barista Challenge. The ABC will enable AFCA member countries enhance barista skills and promote appreciation of domestic coffee consumption. Building on the success of the 2nd ABC Championship, AFCA will target to increase the number of countries participating from 6 to 11 over the coming years and put in place a structured training and competition procedure to consistently improve Barista skills in the African Region”. Samuel Kamau, Executive Director AFCA

Conference Program

African Taste of Harvest

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