The Kenya National Barista Championship 2023

The Kenya National Barista Championship 2023 is set to take place on 4th and 6th May at the Galleria mall in Karen, Nairobi.?The annual competition, now in its 19th edition, is organized by Kenya Coffee Events (KCE) and is part of the World Barista Championship circuit.

Baristas from all over Kenya will compete in the event to showcase their skills and compete for the title of the country's top barista.?The winner of the competition will also participate in the World Barista Championship (WBC) from 22nd -24th June in Athens, Greece and represent Kenya as its coffee ambassador.

The competition will focus on various aspects of the baristas' coffee-making skills, including their technical abilities, creativity, and overall presentation and professionalism.?

The event aims to promote the specialty coffee industry in Kenya, raise awareness of sustainable and ethical coffee production practices, and promote the barista profession, especially among the youth.

The Kenya National Barista Championship serves a dual function in promoting coffee consumption and improved quality coffee production. It also aims to stimulate domestic consumption of coffee by allowing the public to taste quality coffee and foster improvement in quality in all links of the value chain, from farm to cup.

The Kenya Coffee Events Committee, with the support of the Kenyan government, including but not limited to the AFA-Coffee Directorate, coffee shops, hotels and restaurants, coffee roasters, the Kenya Coffee Traders Association, and Barista Training schools, is responsible for coordinating Kenya's participation in both national and international coffee events.

The winner of the Kenya National Barista Championship will join a list of distinguished Kenyan representatives to the World Barista Championship, including Peter Owiti in 2004, Dominic Ruo in 2005, Jacky Mbithe in 2006, John Muli Makau in 2007 and 2008, Jimmy Njoroge in 2010, Catherine Maringi in 2011, Rhoda Wambui in 2012 and 2013, Eric Kimathi in 2014, Martin Shabaya in 2015, 2016, 2017 and 2021, Anthony Gitonga in 2018, Hillary Mugasitsi in 2019,?and Esther Ochieng in 2022.

The Kenya National Barista Championship is not only a celebration of Kenya's top baristas but also a platform for coffee stakeholders to network by exhibiting their products and services. The event's success is expected to have a positive impact on the country's coffee industry, and its promotion of sustainable and ethical coffee production practices will ensure that Kenya remains a leader in the global coffee industry.