The mammoth sign welcoming visitors to the International Coffee Week event.
International Coffee Week kicked off here in Belo Horizonte, Brazil yesterday with the opening of the trade show floor, the ongoing cupping sessions, classes, and more topped with a cocktail reception last night celebrating the 50th anniversary of the International Coffee Organization.
Making it to the building requires walking through this long entryway, no doubt set up to let attendees know what it’s like to be on a drying bed.
Today starts a number of competitions at the event including the Brazilian Cup Tasters Championship, the Barista Championship and the Brewers Cup (or as it’s known here, Campeonato de Brasileiro de Peparo de Café.)
A couple Aeropresses feature in the brewing equipment at the Brewers Cup.The first competitor of the Brewers Cup draws a crowd.
A big emphasis here in Brazil is building a movement as found in the US, Australia, Europe and elsewhere for hand-crafted brewed coffee. So the Brewers Cup has attracted quite a bit of attention, drawing dozens of spectators off of the show floor to see what all the hubbub is about.
The city of Belo Horizonte sprawls over many hills in the Minas Gerais region creating the third largest metro area in Brazil.
Kenneth R. Olson (he/him) is co-founder and publisher of Barista Magazine the worldwide trade magazine for the professional coffee community. He has written extensively about specialty coffee, traveled near and far for stories, activities, and fun, and been invited to present on topics important to coffee culture. He is also an avid fan of the Portland Trail Blazers, the Washington Huskies, and public libraries.
