BELO HORIZONTE – It is considered the most important agroindustry event in 2013, and will gather representatives from more than 70 Member countries of the ICO on an extensive programming.
Minas Gerais is the largest coffee producer state in Brazil, and will host the International Coffee Week between 9th and 13th, September in Belo Horizonte, at Expominas Convention Center.
The event will house the 50th Anniversary Reunion of the International Coffee Organization (ICO), and also the Espaço Café Brasil, which is the largest coffee fair in Latin America. The program also includes business meetings, conferences, baristas competitions, lectures, workshops and seminars.
Minas Gerais Government through the State Secretariat of Agriculture, Livestock and Food Suply (Secretaria de Estado de Agricultura, Pecuária e Abastecimento – Seapa) organizes the International Coffee Week, in partnership with the Federation of Agriculture of Minas Gerais (Federação da Agricultura e Pecuária de Minas Gerais – Faemg), the Brazilian Service of Support for Micro and Small Interprises (Sebrae), ICO, Ministry of Agriculture, Livestock and Food Supply (Ministério da Agricultura, Pecuária e Abastecimento – MAPA), the Ministry of External Relations (Ministério das Relações Exteriores) , and Café Editora.
International Coffee Organization (ICO)
International Coffee Organization (ICO) is the main intergovernmental organization in the world in its area, and will gather for the first time in Minas Gerais.
The site selection is due to the importance of the State for the coffee market, once it produces 25% of all the coffee consumed worldwide.
Hundreds of ICO representatives from over 70 countries will be in Belo Horizonte to discuss the coffee market future path.
The ICO members’ countries are responsible for 97% of the global production, and for over 80% of coffee consumption. Ambassadors, ministers, agriculture secretaries, and associations representatives from different countries will discuss the market trends, improvement of coffee quality, relevant technology for the industry, and financial instruments in order to improve planting and working conditions, and other subjects.
8th Espaço Café Brasil (Coffee International Fair)
The Espaço Café Brasil is a business platform for the coffee market that reunites an exhibition area with activities for producers, cooperatives, roasters, exporters, retailers, entrepreneurs, baristas and consumers. The fair attracts leading buyers and suppliers worldwide since 2006.
Espaço Café Brasil had 6.500 visitors among buyers and professionals, and more than 100 exhibiting companies presenting new product launches, and major market trends last year.
The 2012 Fair in statistics:
- 6.500 visitors from 18 countries;
- 110 exhibiting brands that may generate business around 10 million reais;
- 35 launches of products and services;
- More than 10,000 cups of coffee prepared and served by more than 80 baristas;
- More than 30 international buyers;
- 90 hour-content seminars for more than 2,000 people;
- 40 workshops and lectures presented by market leaders;
- 14 coffee cupping sessions, and more than 400 cups tasted;
- 42 samples received for Coffee of the Year Brazil & Business Meetings;
- R$ 500,000.00 in direct sales between buyer-producer business meetings;
- 15 One to One Meetings connecting producers and roasters;
- 55 articles and stories published nationally;
- 30,000 visitors to the fair website, with more than 70,000 page views;
- Thousands of coffee lovers and enthusiasts.
Baristas and Tasters Contests
Some of the most important baristas and coffee tasters of the country will take part of championships during the 8th Espaço Café Brasil. The event shall include three competitions: two for baristas (experts in preparing drinks based in coffee) and one for tasters (Cup Tasters). At the 13th Brazilian Baristas Contest, the competitors will have 15 minutes to prepare and serve to the judges, four espressos, four the one containing cappuccinos and four signature coffee drinks. (All beverages in the contest must be alcohol free) Ingredients containing alcohol will not be allowed.
The 6th Brazilian Cup Tasters Championship, however, will test the competitors’ ability to correctly separate different types of coffee.
Three cups of coffee will be prepared being two of them with the same type and the other with a different one.
The goal is to identify the one containing the different coffee. May participate coffee tasters and coffee classifiers. At the 3rd Brazilian Coffee Preparation Championship, by its turn, competitors will need technique and ability to extract the best coffee using filter and manual methods.
