RAS AL KHAIMAH – QAHWAWORLD

The organizing committee for the “Gulf Coffee Maker” competition has finalized preparations for the launch of its second edition (2026 Cup). Scheduled for this Saturday, January 10, the event will take place at the Ras Al Khaimah Youth Center in the Al Dhait South area. This edition is jointly organized by S 3 C A F E, Coffee Market Innovations, and Palate Coffee, aiming to provide a community-driven competitive platform for coffee enthusiasts.

  • Elite Competition and Significant Rewards

The competition will feature 40 contestants vying for the title of “Gulf Coffee Maker.” A total prize pool of 20,000 AED has been allocated for the winners and audience draws. While four winners will be crowned at the end of the day, the organizers have also prepared 100 raffle gifts specifically for visitors and spectators.

  • Strict Technical Regulations

To ensure the highest standards of fairness, the committee has established rigorous technical guidelines:

Equipment: Each participant must bring their preferred manual brewing tool (e.g., V60, AeroPress, Wave, Clever, or any other manual dripper).

Time Limits: Contestants are allotted 5 minutes for preparation and 5 minutes for the actual brewing process.

Grinding: While an electronic grinder will be provided on-site, participants are permitted to use their personal grinders.

Water Standards: Organizers will provide certified water and kettles. Participants may use their own water subject to prior testing and approval by the committee, though the use of provided kettles is encouraged to save time.

  • Brewing Protocol and Judging Criteria

On the day of the event, each contestant will receive 150 grams of coffee to be used for both training and the preliminary rounds. Those who advance to subsequent stages will receive an additional 50 grams per round. To qualify for judging, contestants must submit more than 100 grams of brewed coffee to the panel.

The competition follows a group format, where the preliminary and semi-final rounds consist of groups of four, with only the top performer advancing. The final round is divided into two categories:

Senior Category: Featuring three finalists competing for the top three ranks.

Junior Category: Featuring a focused competition to determine a single winner.

  • Event Schedule

The day begins at 10:00 AM with contestant registration, followed by training sessions and a specialized exhibition. The official knock-out rounds commence at 5:40 PM, culminating in the grand finale and an awards ceremony at 8:40 PM.