Unique competition, Iran Barista Challenge, developed to stimulate the talented barista community of Tehran
There are few barista communities with as much heart and drive as the one that exists in Tehran, Iran. Baristas here are so devoted to both specialty coffee and their community of like-minded professionals that they built a movement from scratch just a few years ago, and developed it enough to be sanctioned by the World Coffee Events organization to have its own national barista competition ”quote a feat for a barely four-year-old community.
Always looking for new outlets for their coffee prowess, Amir Masoud Ghahari and other leaders in the group developed the Iran Barista Challenge, its own unique event that has nothing to do with the World Barista Championship, but was instead created to showcase the passions and talents of baristas from across Iran with a fresh new event.
Fourteen participants took place in the two-day Iran Barista Challenge November 9 and 10, which drew hundreds of people to the Garden House Cafe Restaurant where the event was held. The first day of competition had each competitor demonstrate correct grinder usage, prepare one espresso, one cappuccino, and one latte, in 15 minutes.
After tallying the scores, six barista remained for the final day of competition. Baristas were instructed to prepare an espresso, a macchiato, a latte, and one French-pressed coffee in 15 minutes for a panel of technical and sensory judges.
A special highlight of the event was the participation of 2016 Iran Barista Championship runner-up Mansour Ehsani, who helped the curious audience members understand the process of barista competitions.
