International Coffee Week: Q-Graders, buyers, baristas and coffee aficionados go head to head at Expominas, Belo Horizonte
 |
|
|
Q-Graders, baristas and other would-be coffee aficionados have an opportunity to show off their skills at the Brazil International Coffee Week (SIC) this Wednesday when they will go head-to-head to compete for a place at the World of Coffee event in Athens. The event is also a great platform to present the best coffees in the country, from different regions, with unique sensory profiles to buyers from abroad. In this edition, 25 buyers from countries such as Canada, Germany, United States, United Kingdom, Poland, Russia and Saudi Arabia, will attend the fair and also will have the chance to go to some coffee producing regions, farms and see the process from bean to cup.
This year, 48 entries will vie for a position within the Cup Tasters category, and 20 for the Brewers category at Expominas in Belo Horizonte between November 16 to 18. The project is part of the "Brazil. The Nation of Coffee", promoted by BSCA (Brazil Specialty Coffee Association) and ApexBrasil (Brazilian Trade and Investment Promotion Agency), that seeks to reinforce the quality of Brazilian beans worldwide and to position the country as a high quality supplier.
The first contest aims to select the best coffee tasters, evaluating the ability of the competitors to differentiate cups of filtered coffee in a blind tasting, using the methodology of triangulation. The second aims to select professionals with the best performance in the preparation of coffees, using manual methods of extraction. National and international judges will evaluate the results, choosing the finalists. One of the three finalists will be chosen to participate in the World of Coffee in Athens, which will take place from 22 to 25 June 2023.
The event promotes technical workshops on the preparation of espressos, roasting and tasting, offers lectures on business trends, coffee growing and processing, as well as holding barista competitions. BSCA will be present at a 190 m² stand, the largest stand of the fair, and will count on the presence of São Silvestre Farm, Zancanaro Estate Coffee, Café Santa Monica, Kaldi Cafés Especiais, MCC Coffee Brasil. The place will also hold the Brew Bar space, which is a special stage for coffee shops. Members such as specialty coffee growers Camocin, Luca Cafés Especiais and Supernova Coffee will also be present.
Brazil is the largest coffee producer and exporter in the world, there are 34 producing regions, with more than 150 varieties, with a sensory profile beyond the traditional sensorial notes often associated with Brazilian coffees such as chocolate, caramel and nuts. Dedication to quality and research into post-harvest processing methods such as anaerobic fermentation has yielded rare and exotic flavors and aromas such as passion fruit, blueberry, wild strawberry preserves, brilliant acidity and velvety body, among others that are considered unique.
"Promoting the diversity, quality and differentials of the coffees produced with excellence by Brazilians is a way to expand the commercialization channels with direct sales, and contribute to adding value to the product, fostering economic sustainability to producers who cultivate with respect for the environment,” says the executive director of BSCA, Vinicius Estrela.
The coffee fair will offer visitors an extensive content grid organized into three pillars: agribusiness, coffee shop and marketing. During the convention, attendees can watch presentations about market intelligence, sustainable coffee farming and the future of coffee.
BRAZIL. THE COFFEE NATION
Is a sector project, developed by BSCA and Apex-Brasil, focused on the commercial promotion of the Brazilian product on the international market. The objective is to strengthen the image of Brazilian coffee beans worldwide and to position the country as a high-quality supplier, using state-of-the-art technology resulting from research.
The current project has as target markets: i) Canada, United States, China, South Korea, Japan, Germany, Spain, Poland, United Kingdom, Turkey, United Arab Emirates and Saudi Arabia for specialty coffee beans; and ii) Canada, China, United Arab Emirates, Chile, Portugal and the United States for products from the roasting and grinding industry. The project also aims at exposing the exclusive certification and traceability processes adopted in the national production of specialty coffees, highlighting their social and environmental responsibility, and incorporating a competitive advantage to Brazilian products.
ABOUT BSCA
BSCA has been internationally recognized as a leader in the production of fine coffees in Brazil since 1991. Its activities are aimed at disseminating and stimulating technical improvement in the production, commercialization, and industrialization of specialty coffees, in addition to promoting environmental preservation and sustainable environmental development through programs, projects and partnerships with public and private, national and foreign entities.
Through partnerships for research, dissemination of quality control techniques and promotion actions, BSCA raises the standards of excellence of Brazilian coffees offered in the domestic and foreign markets. In addition, it is an institution in Brazil certifying lots that can be monitored through specialty coffee quality control seals, with full traceability, which is made available by the entity to consumers.
ABOUT APEXBRASIL
The Brazilian Trade and Investment Promotion Agency (ApexBrasil) is the official institution responsible for export promotion, foreign investment attraction and internationalizing to Brazilian companies. Created in 1997, it is a non-profit body, of private law, collective interest and public utility.
Its mission is to promote exports, the internationalization of Brazilian companies, and foreign direct investment, in support of national public policies and strategies, in order to contribute to the sustainable growth of the Brazilian economy.