Coffee Board in World of Coffee 2006, Berne, Switzerland

Specialty Coffee Association of Europe had organised World of Coffee-2006, an event encompassing the Specialty Coffee Conference, Exhibition and Workshop in conjunction with the World Barista Championship -2006. The event was held in Berne, the capital city of Switzerland, during May 19-21, 2006. This year, the event had one of the largest presence of specialty coffee roasters, traders, growers, equipment manufacturers and coffee quality experts. There were more than 100 stalls at the exhibition, so far the biggest in the history of Specialty Coffee Association of Europe. The conference session was held for two days and had experts from different fields talking on the issues of sustainability, tractability, competitiveness of the producing countries, successful marketing etc. There were also workshops on all the three days in the areas of roasting and grinding, brewing, Barista grinding, tasting, ingredients, home equipment and coffee recipes etc. co-ordinated by experts in the filed. The World Barista Championship contest comprises of more than 45 National Champions representing as many countries.

The Coffee Board had organized the final cupping session of 'Flavour Of India-The Fine Cup Competition -2006' in Berne just two days prior to the commencement of the World of Coffee -2006 event. India participated in a big way in this event represented by Coffee Board, specialty coffee growers and exporters, since Europe is one of the main export destination for Indian coffee, including the Indian Specialty Coffees. The Indian delegation was led by Sri G.Y. Krishna Rau, Chairman, Coffee Board and comprises of two officers from the Board viz., Dr. Y.Raghuramulu, Head, Division of Agronomy and Dr. K. Basavaraj, Dy. Director (Quality Control). The delegation comprised the following specialty coffee producersl exporters.

· Sri Jacob Mammen, Managing Director, Mis. Badra Estates & Industries Ltd.

· Sri M.K. Sanyal, General Manager, M/s.BBTC Ltd.

· Sri Thimmaiah, Manager, Mis. Aspinwal & Co.

· Sri K.A. Bopanna, Manager, Badra Estates & Industries Limited.

· Sri Ramesh Rajah, Executive Director, Mis. Ramesh Exports.

· Sri Devaiah, M/s. Allanasons.

· Sri. Millan Shah, M/s. Madhu Jayanti International.

· Sri.Anil Mishra, M/s.ECOM Gill India.

· Smt. Sunalini N. Menon, Executive Director, M/s.Coffeelab.

· Smt. Renuka Gangadhar, M/s. Coffeelab.

· Sri K.S. Gautham, India Barista Champion -2006 representing India at the WBC-2006.

The Coffee Board had put up a stall at the exhibition and had depicted a theme on diversity oflndian coffees. At the Board's exhibition stall, a list of award winners and the samples from their estates were displayed for the benefit of trade visitors. Literature pertaining to Indian Specialty Coffees was distributed among the trade visitors to the Board's exhibition stall. Wet sampling of the fine cup award winning coffees was also arranged on all the days of exhibition.

The Board has also organised a 'Tasting Session of award winning coffees of Flavour oflndia- The Fine Cup Competition-2006' for the benefit of interested roasters, traders and coffee quality experts to provide wide publicity for the award winning of specialty coffees. The Arabica Plantation sample from Badnekhan Estate (M/s. Devon Plantations), Robusta Parchment from Choudicadoo Estate (M/s. BBTC) and Monsooned Malabar from M/s. Aspinwall & Co., which had won the Fine Cup Award -2006 have attracted the attention of many roasters/importers from Europe and Japan. The award winning coffee from Choudicadoo estate was booked on the spot by a representative ofM/s.Nippon Coffee Trading Co., Japan at a premium pnce.

The Chairman, Coffee Board upon an invitation by the organizers made a presentation on "Diversity of Indian Coffees" in the conference session on 'Origin Countries-their products specialties and strategies'. The presentation was attended by about 30 delegates from different countries and had evinced keen debate on the diverisity of Indian coffees. After the presentation, the Chairman participated in a panel discussion on 'Origins' alongwith the representatives of Brazil, Colombia and Ethiopia which was chaired by Mr. /Nestor Osorio, Executive Director, ICO. More than 100 participants from different countries attended the session.

The Board had also organized a 'Buyer-Seller Meet' on the evening of 19th May, 2006 for facilitating networking opportunities to the Indian Specialty Growers, Exporters and Roasters/Importers based in Europe.

World Barista Championship

At the World Barista Championship contest, more than 45 'National champions represented their countries. India was represented by Mr. K.S. Gautham, the winner of India Barista Championship- 2006. He could not make it to the final round of the World Championship and stood 15th among the contestants. The participation in 'World of Coffee-2006' provided an opportunity to showcase the diversity of Indian coffees and also wide publicity to the Indian Specialty Coffees, especially the award winning coffees of Flavour ofIndiaThe Fine Cup Award 2006, among the international specialty coffee community and also for facilitating networking opportunities for the producers/exporters of Indian Specialty Coffees.