Khaled Al Mulla Announces New UAE Coffee Competitions in the Coming Period
- Khaled Al Mulla announced the Cup Tasters Championship, Coffee with Spirit and the EBRIC Championship in December.
- He called for support of World of Coffee Dubai 2027, scheduled for January.
- He made the announcements during his closing remarks at the 10th UAE AeroPress Championship 2026.
- He highlighted Ahmed Bin Sulayem’s expected role on the SCA Board of Directors.
- He thanked Ahmed Al-Salehian, the DMCC team, sponsors and volunteers.
- He noted the championship was hosted at Almas Tower for a fifth consecutive year.
- Apfia Jovitatera won the title and will represent the UAE in Mexico City.
Khaled Al Mulla, Chairman of the Specialty Coffee Association UAE, has announced a series of upcoming coffee events and competitions in the UAE. These include the Cup Tasters Championship, alongside Coffee with Spirit and the EBRIC Championship. He indicated that these three events will take place in December. He also called on the local and international coffee community to support the next edition of World of Coffee Dubai 2027, scheduled for January.
Al Mulla made the announcements during his closing remarks at the 10th UAE AeroPress Championship 2026. The championship was held at Almas Tower, headquarters of the Dubai Multi Commodities Centre, on Saturday, November 14.
Three Competitions in December and a Show in January
Al Mulla said the Cup Tasters Championship would take place in December, alongside Coffee with Spirit and the EBRIC Championship. He added that maintaining the momentum of the UAE coffee sector was important. He explained that this would encourage greater participation from industry professionals and enthusiasts.
The announcements come as the country’s specialty coffee sector shows clear expansion. They reflect the association’s aim to diversify competition formats and attract a wider segment of the community, from December through to World of Coffee Dubai in January.
| Event | Date |
|---|---|
| Cup Tasters Championship | December 2026 |
| Coffee with Spirit | December 2026 |
| EBRIC Championship | December 2026 |
| World of Coffee Dubai 2027 | January 2027 |
Recognition of DMCC’s Role
During his speech, Al Mulla referred to Ahmed Bin Sulayem, Executive Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of DMCC. He highlighted his expected role on the Board of Directors of the Specialty Coffee Association. Al Mulla expressed pride in the UAE and the Arab world’s representation at the international level of the coffee industry.
Al Mulla also praised DMCC for its continued support and for hosting coffee-related events. He thanked Ahmed Al-Salehian, Chairman of DMCC’s Executive Committee. He also thanked the centre’s team, sponsors and volunteers for their contributions to the championship.
He said this was the fifth consecutive year the championship had been hosted at Almas Tower. He added that hosting such competitions was a responsibility. It required continued commitment and efforts to develop the coffee sector. He stressed that the responsibility was not simply about celebrating past achievements. It was about maintaining a firm stance towards future challenges.
Apfia Jovitatera Wins the Title
In the competition, Apfia Jovitatera, an Indonesian barista from Abu Dhabi, won the UAE AeroPress Championship 2026. She earns the opportunity to represent the UAE at the World AeroPress Championship. The global event is scheduled for Mexico City on December 6.
In an exclusive statement to Qahwa World after her victory, Jovitatera said she was delighted with the achievement. She added that taking part in the UAE AeroPress was a great opportunity. She explained that she was deeply grateful to represent the UAE at the World AeroPress Championship.
10th Edition Attracts 252 Competitors
The 10th edition of the championship brought together 252 competitors from all seven emirates. Twenty-one advanced to the national finals, three from each emirate. This year’s competition was held under the theme “United and Strong.”
The championship was organised by Mokha 1450 in collaboration with the World AeroPress Championship. DMCC hosted it at Almas Tower.
The UAE AeroPress Championship was first launched in March 2016 in Dubai’s historic Al Fahidi district. Since then, it has become an annual gathering for the country’s specialty coffee community and baristas. It offers the winner the opportunity to represent the UAE at the global competition.
