The Coffee Board of India in association with Speciality Coffee Association of India and the United Coffee Association of India announces the return of 20th edition of the most prestigious coffee event ‘The National Barista Championship’, a pinnacle of competitive coffee making that brings together baristas, coffee planters, specialised retailers and machinery manufacturers from across the country.
A barista is a “coffee artist/coffee maker” who works on an Espresso Machine and prepares coffee, decorates and serves drinks to customers. Baristas have extensive knowledge about coffee, which includes coffee beans, grinding, roasting, extracting the coffee and frothing of milk.
One starts off their morning ritual with a preferred cup of Joe that helps increase energy, productivity levels, revitalises their spirit and enhances performance. What defines one’s favourite brew varies according to the person’s inclinations and liking; the type of coffee, roasting method, type of grind and how it is brewed; each creates a completely distinctive flavour.
The importance of catering to each person’s unique taste buds creates the ever-expanding demand for coffee, and therefore, the demand for baristas. NBC aims to offer just this; a competitive platform to find the country’s finest baristas who will cater to everyone’s coffee needs.
First conceptualised in the year 2001, the NBC has evolved over the years to become the event that marks the wide reach and success of the coffee fraternity in India. With the objective of encouraging healthy competition and synergy in the coffee community, the NBC has strengthened awareness about the beverage as well as the profession in the domestic market. Previously held 19 times, the essence of the event represents the importance of the country’s coffee industry.
“India has an ever growing coffee culture and what better than sharing our coffee culture with a global audience. NBC provides immense opportunities for baristas to showcase skills on a national scale and the winner on a global scale. This event has created recognition for the Barista community and has encouraged many young, passionate individuals to take up this exciting profession. The Indian Coffee Board along with SCAI and UCAI, through NBC, has created awareness about high quality domestic coffee and the Indian coffee industry will soon be a top player in the global market.” said DM Purnesh, the President of SCAI.
The NBC is set to be held at the prestigious Orion Mall, Bangalore on Dr. Rajkumar road, for a period of 5 days. The preliminary rounds will be conducted between the 2nd and 4th of August & the winners of this round will then progress to the semi-finals on 6th August.
The finale then will be held on the 7th of August 2022. Word Coffee Events representative – Ms Seonhee Sunny Yoon from South Korea will be the Head Judge for the Semi-Finals and Finals of NBC 2022 along with Mr. Jagadeesha, (IAS) CEO & Secretary, Coffee Board of India.
The competitive rounds will require each contestant to showcase their skills & focus on different aspects of the coffee creation process – flavours, attention to detail, accuracy, creativity, and diligence.
The declared national champion will get a chance to then compete on a global scale at the World Barista Championship in Melbourne, Australia, from 27th to 30th September, 2022.
