Date:19/01/2006 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2006/01/19/stories/2006011915960200.htm

Karnataka - Bangalore

Who'll be the best barista?

Special Correspondent

Bangalore: This region grows well over 70 per cent of the country's coffee and is known for some of the best plantations and beans in the country. While market prices are often determined by global production level, none questions the unique quality and flavour of the State's coffee.

The Speciality Coffee Association of India has announced the first annual India Barista Championship (IBC 2006) to be held at the Forum Mall here from January 30 to February 2.

The objective of the championship is to choose the best barista (a master brewer with skills to create his own signature brews) in the country. The competing baristas also acquire a sense of pride in the profession and get motivated to greater creativity and customer delight. The consumers, in turn, by watching the baristas in action, acquire an awareness of coffee culture. This year, several more coffee bars are expected to enrol their baristas and the champion-ship is likely to see 40 contestants battling it out for the title. After all, a speciality coffee bar can only attract more customers if it has a champion barista. The preliminary and semi-final rounds will be held from January 30 to February 1 and the final round on February 2.