We've mentioned this before, but coffee is an integral part of our lives at Cafe Rider. It's not just latte art and fancy cups, but we care about the roasting and brewing processes, scrutinizing each step between bean and cup.
There's no one who cares about this more than Gideon Canido, Cafe Rider's Head Roaster. He elevates coffee to an art form, so when he brought us the idea of hosting a brewing competition at the Cafe, we were on board before he had even finished explaining the full concept.
A good bit of planning and preparation went into the event, which wouldn't have been possible without our event sponsors - Al Saqr Trading, Kiziwa Coffee, La Marzocco UAE, Barista Community Middle East and Souq Coffee.
As the big day arrived, everything was in place and by 1pm on March 30th, our participants (54 of them) arrived to register for the competition, bringing friends and well-wishers with them.
The Brewer's Cup began at 4pm, with participants progressing through the initial rounds quickly before reaching the elimination process. Our esteemed judges tasted each round of coffee through a quick and efficient cupping process, before pointing simultaneously to their choice.
As the sun began to set, the suspense grew as the final rounds began. Watching the baristas focus on their brewing technique was truly mesmerizing, as they each endeavored to outdo their peers.
The final round brought us three incredibly talented baristas - Hortono from Seven Fortunes, Archie from Blacksmith Coffee and CJ from Emirati Coffee. There can only be one winner however...
... and so, the 2022 Cafe Rider Brewer's Cup Champion is Hortono! Archie and CJ took home the silver and bronze cups respectively, bringing a close to a very exciting evening.
After seeing the impressive response from the coffee community, we're already planning next year's Brewer's Cup - so stay tuned!
