There are just 12 days to go until the coffee world – ourselves included – will be descending on Rimini in Italy for The World of Coffee 2014 fair.
Some 30,000 trade professionals are expected to attend from more than 50 different countries all over the world, with over 200 brands hawking their expertise across 20,000 sq m of exhibition space.
What's going on?
World of Coffee – organised by the Specialty Coffee Association of Europe (SCAE), of which we are a founder member – is arguably the main coffee event in Europe, at which exhibitors will be showing the most innovative products, services and processes that see green coffee follow the supply chain from crop to cup. The show will be split into three primary themed sections.
The first will involve an expo sector at which traders and coffee professionals can exhibit and find out more about many different aspects of the industry, the second will focus on advanced training – comprising seminars, group meetings and updates on the latest movers and shakers in the coffee industry – and the final section will be dedicated to international competitions for the sector.
The main expo
Running from 10th until 12th June, the event will not solely focus on coffee as a beverage. Indeed, in the expo section, not only will experts be able to get to grips with new technologies and trends, but they will also be invited to engage with demo areas showcasing confectionery, cooking, ice cream and baking, for example, experimenting with and learning about the role coffee has to play in these areas too. Arguably, this will be the main showcase section for the production and supply of green coffee.
Training
Meanwhile, the training section is a fundamental part of the proceedings, as its key objectives are also the main priorities of the SCAE – that is, enhancing skills, education, training and certification. The SCAE will in fact be bringing its Coffee Diploma System to the fair so that all those attending have the opportunity to enhance their skillset and boost their knowledge. What's more – and in keeping with the promotion of certification – the SCAE will be offering professionals the chance to become certified via the system.
Competitions
Finally, the competition section will consist of several major global tournaments – that is, the World Barista Championship (which will be taking place alongside the World of Coffee in the Italian city for the very first time), the World Brewers Cup and the World Coffee Roasting Championship.
This is not all, however. The competitions section will also feature the Cezve/Ibrik Championship, which pitches participants against each other in a bid to find the best Turkish coffee maker.
All those who check out this part of the show are sure to be dazzled as the best baristas in the world will be showcasing their talents, crafting cappuccinos, espressos and signature beverages for the scrutiny of a panel of judges. In order to compete in the World Barista Championship, each individual will have had to become champion in their respective nation, meaning this particular part will feature the absolute finest barista talent on the planet.
The World Brewers Cup scrutinises competitors' abilities to brew filter coffee by hand, with compulsory and open service rounds. The World Coffee Roasting Championship, which enjoyed its debut in 2013 by World Coffee Events at the same fair in Nice, will test how participants judge green coffee and accordingly roast it and, of course, scrutinise the final cupping profile of that roasted bean.
Tickets and other information
The World of Coffee event is exclusive for trade members, who can purchase a ticket for €30 either in advance or at the fair itself, which will cover all three days of the gathering. Those who wish to come along for just one day between 10:00am and 5:00pm should expect to pay €20 admission.
Needless to say, coffee traders and experts from all over the world – including all of us here at DR Wakefield – are extremely excited for this landmark event.
