Aid in Action
Kenya Crowns 4th National Barista Champion
Winner Beats 65 Competitors to Take Barista Trophy
Nairobi, Kenya
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Friday, April 25, 2008
Photo: Albert Mwangi
John Muli prepares his signature drink for the judges during the semi-final competition. Competitors used a variety of ingredients, from chocolate and orange to cinnamon and chili, to give each drink a distinctive flavor.
The noise level at the Junction reached fever pitch as head judge Marcus Boni announced the winner of the 4th Annual Kenya National Barista Competition. The 1st place trophy was presented to Nairobi Java House’s John Muli, who became the first repeat winner of the Kenya National Barista competition following his win last year.
Of the initial 65 entries from coffee houses and hotels throughout Kenya, 16 baristas competed in the semi-finals on April 18th. Each competitor had 45 minutes to prepare, serve and clear away an espresso, cappuccino and signature coffee drink to each of the four judges. The six Baristas’s who reached the finalist competition on April 19th were evenly divided between the two major coffee houses, Nairobi Java House and C. Dormans, each hoping to represent Kenya in the World Barista Championship in Copenhagen in June and to compete with 60 champions from around the world.
This year’s finalists were all of an extremely high technical level and Mr. Boni noted that this was one of the most impressive fields at a national level competition that he had ever observed. Jimmy Njoroge, also of Java House, came in as a very close first-runner up, winning two of the individual awards for best signature drink and best cappuccino. Bridget Carrington, Managing Director of C. Dormans and Vice-Chairman of the East Africa Fine Coffee Association (EAFCA), noted that any of the final six could easily represent Kenya in the World Barista Championships.
The competition’s sensory and technical judges go through special training and take exams to meet the standards required at world barista championships. Judges follow strict criteria on visual appearance, crema and taste, rating each cup on a scale ranging from 0, completely undrinkable, to 6, a perfect cup of coffee.
Photo: Steve Walls
Champion John Muli celebrates after winning the 4th Annual Kenya Barista Championship at the Junction. In addition to a trip to the World Barista Championship in Copenhagen, Muli will receive one week’s specialist barista training in Denmark, sponsored by Estates Coffee.
RATES has provided technical assistance to EAFCA over the last five years to sponsor barista competitions as a way to promote domestic consumption of specialty coffees and to promote African coffees to the rest of the world. In addition to RATES, this year’s competition was sponsored by over 15 local and international companies, including Brussels Airline, who are providing a free ticket for John Muli to travel to Copenhagen to compete in the World Barista Championships. EAFCA received over $5,000 in cash and in-kind sponsorships from these companies. Air Kenya and Sarova Lodges presented Mr. Boni of Intelligentsia Coffee (a coffee company out of Chicago) with a free safari to the Masai Mara for serving in a volunteer capacity as the head judge and trainer.
EAFCA now sponsors barista championship events in Zambia, Uganda, South Africa, Ethiopia and Kenya. Its work has helped bring coffee producers and farmers together, and increased visibility of African coffees on the world market.