SCAE to launch exciting new competition in Copenhagen

13th May 2008

The SCAE embraces all coffee cultures and we see education, diversity and quality as our main goals. This extends to include all brewing methods.

However, if we take a look both at our coffee history, and at recent coffee consumption statistics, we must admit that the wonderful and unique Turkish or Greek ceremonial ways of roasting, brewing and presenting coffee have not received the attention they should. This is, after all, the most common way of enjoying coffee in large parts of Eastern Europe, the Middle East and North Africa. Up to 85% of the coffee consumed there is enjoyed this way. A brief summary of statistics may even indicate that this brewing method is as large or larger than espresso.

Announcing the SCAE Ibrik/Cezve competition

To make up for this omission, at the Wonderful Coffee 2008 event in Copenhagen, the SCAE will launch a new competition named after the pot that is used the make these coffees. In the Arabian countries it is called a Cezve; in Greek, an Ibrik.

The competition will be structured like this: over a 12 minute period, the competitors will serve the judges two traditional Cezve/Ibrik coffees without any additives, two coffees with sugar and spices and two signature beverages, based on the same brewing method. The judges will be scoring taste, technique and, above all, the performance and presentation, through open judging. As opposed to the other competitions, here there can be two persons on the stage, as the main competitor can bring an assistant. His or her job will be to set the stage and help with serving.

While there is room for improvement in the coffees generally used in this coffee culture, the rest of the coffee world has a lot to learn from it when it comes to dedication in service and ambiance. In Copenhagen on Saturday morning, prior to the World Cup Tasters Championship, and on the same stage, you can watch this exciting new competition, which has Nestlé Greece as the main sponsor, and which has competitors coming mainly from the around the Mediterranean region. With far more Turks and Greeks living in Germany than Danes living in Denmark, we hope to see competitors from those nations as well.

For further information go to the SCAE competition website or contact alfkramer@remarc.no, and to see the competition itself, join us at Wonderful Coffee in Copenhagen, by clicking on the banner above.—Alf Kramer