DUBAI, UAE – DMCC – the world’s flagship Free Zone and Government of Dubai Authority on commodities trade and enterprise – hosted its first coffee tasting experience and auction on 11 November 2019. The event held at DMCC’s headquarters in Almas Tower hosted over 100 representatives of the nation’s coffee industry to taste and bid for some of the most exclusive and highest quality coffee in existence.
“We are proud to have hosted our first specialty coffee tasting and auction featuring some of the world’s most sought after coffee beans. This represents yet another important milestone for both Dubai and DMCC, further anchoring the emirate’s position at the heart of the global coffee trade,” said Ahmed Bin Sulayem, Executive Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, DMCC.
“With the launch of the DMCC Coffee Centre earlier this year, we are well on our way to becoming the region’s leading specialty coffee trading hub, attracting new trade flows and on the other hand, providing the local coffee scene with access to the world’s finest coffees” he added.
The world’s most valuable coffee, Panama Geisha, was supplied by Café Eleta and on offer at the event. Geisha coffee from Panama is famed for its extraordinary taste and was awarded the highest ever score in a global specialty coffee competition earlier this year. With very limited volumes being produced each year, award-winning Geisha coffee has previously been sold for a record-breaking AED 10,000 (USD 2,268) per kilogramme.
Over 25 varieties of exquisite coffees from over 10 different origins were also on offer at the auction, including a range of Central and South American coffees from Brazil, Colombia, Costa Rica, Guatemala, Honduras and El Salvador, as well as a selection of African coffees from Ethiopia, Rwanda, Burundi, Kenya and Tanzania.
Alejandro Carvello, CEO, Eleta Group, commented: “We are delighted to have collaborated with DMCC to bring the world’s most valuable coffee to Dubai. Specialty coffee is gaining traction globally and the success of this event showcases the growing interest and appetite for it in the region as well. We look forward to bringing other unique offerings to Dubai in the years to come.”
The auction was set in motion with the objective of increasing trade flow of coffee in Dubai and positioning the DMCC Coffee Centre as a gateway for coffee trade. Offering members an avenue to market and distribute coffee and visibility on their products, the auction brought roasters, traders, and specialty coffee shop owners under one roof and underpinned Dubai’s emergence as a global industry leader.
DMCC inaugurated its Coffee Centre, a state-of-the-art temperature-controlled facility and the first of its kind in the Middle East earlier this year. From crop to cup, the centre offers cost-effective logistical support and services that connect producers to buyers. The venture also houses a coffee quality laboratory, cupping labs and a Specialty Coffee Association (SCA) Premier Training Campus, in addition to a range of commercial office space.
