Professional development a focus at ICTF. Professional development a focus at ICTF.

The International Coffee & Tea Festival 2015 hopes to address the growing demand for professional development of baristas with SCAA-certified programmes leading up to and during the course of its 7th edition.

 With increased competiiton and consumer demand, cafes and coffee houses in the region are recognising the need to recruit trained staff and improve skills of existing baristas to enhance their overall service and produce a better product.

Training programmes at the International Coffee & Tea Festival (ICTF) are certified by the Specialty Coffee Association of America (SCAA).

SCAA-certified instructors, who have completed all components of the SCAA’s Instructor Development Programme, will administer the workshops and certifications that are designed for beginners, intermediate and advanced professionals.

Ryan Godinho, UAE’s national liaison for World Coffee Events and special events coordinator (training & championships) with ICTF, said: “As the demand for high-quality coffee made from well-roasted coffee beans rises in the UAE, the time has come to differentiate between a barista from a coffee maker. Intensive training and hands-on experience in roasting, grinding, extracting, and frothing transforms a coffeemaker into a professional barista."

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He added: “ICTF 2015 will continue to address the growing demand for quality and service through a series of training programmes in coffee preparation, coffee grading, and coffee roasting. The sessions will ensure that participants get a deeper insight about the art of coffee making that involves buying the right beans, roasting and grinding them to retain freshness, and brewing to perfection.

"Through our ongoing interaction with the coffee and tea fraternity with initiatives such as Coffee Training & Workshops, the Coffee Championships and the formation of the Barista community, ICTF will continue to contribute to the prolific tea and coffee industry of the UAE and the region."

The International Coffee & Tea Festival is supported by the SCAA and World Coffee Events (WCE). It is the UAE’s only dedicated exhibition that showcases specialty coffee and tea products from around the world and attracts industry professionals from across the GCC, the MENA region, and the Indian sub-continent.

The event will be held from November 11-13, 2015 at The Meydan Gallery and Convention Centre in Dubai.