Gaggia Brazil holds 1st Home Barista Championship in Campinas (SP)

Gaggia Brazil held the 1st Gaggia Home Barista Championship in Campinas (SP) between September 19th and 20th, aimed at consumers and coffee enthusiasts who use the brand's machines at home. A total of 16 participants competed for the prize. Espresso was present as a media sponsor.

The title went to David Yang, coffee lover and director of agritourism in the Volcanic Region. Deborah Veneziano came in second and Kellson Marcus in third. The top three winners received trophies and Gaggia machines as prizes.

“Winning this championship means a lot to me, as I’ve been a ‘gaggia lover’ ever since I entered the world of espresso, when I acquired the Gaggia Classic,” Yang tells Espresso. “Being the first home barista champion and being part of the history of a brand I admire is incredible. Initiatives like this embrace the community, valuing the passion and dedication we have for coffee, as well as attracting and encouraging more people to learn about and appreciate what’s behind a good cup,” he comments.

The competition

In a bracket format, competitors had to prepare and present two espresso drinks and a milk-based beverage to the sensory judges. During the presentation, they were also evaluated by technical judges, who observed aspects related to the preparation and operation of the equipment. The official machine of the competition was the Gaggia Classic UP.

“The Gaggia Home Barista Championship was created to give coffee lovers the opportunity to experience a real competition, competing on equal terms with other home baristas and showcasing their technical and sensory knowledge to a panel of professional judges,” explains Daniel Alves, barista and ambassador for Gaggia Brazil.

The competition's jury included professionals from different areas of the specialty coffee sector, such as Roberto Polillo, partner at Sabino Coffee Co., international judge and coach of national Brewers champions; Fernanda Marqueria, Q-Grader and Sensory Professional at SCA, responsible for the Coffee Preparation Center at the Coffee Museum in Santos; Antônia Silva, roasting coordinator, roasting master and professor at Coffee Lab; Sergio Parreiras Pereira, scientific researcher at the Agronomic Institute of Campinas (IAC); Gabriela Kaneto, journalist at Espresso&CO, the company that organizes the São Paulo Coffee Festival and the International Coffee Week; and Leonardo Kento, from Kento Cafés Especiais, organic coffee producer, barista, roasting master, Q-Grader and judge of Brewers championships.

For Gaggia Brazil, the initiative aims to bring the world of specialty coffees closer to the home consumer and to promote coffee preparation outside of a professional setting. “More than a competition, the event aimed to bring consumers, enthusiasts, and professionals closer to the world of coffee, showing that high-performance equipment can transform the experience of preparing an espresso at home and open new possibilities for those who want to improve their techniques,” highlights Umberto Milo, CEO of Imeltron, the official representative and exclusive importer of Gaggia in Brazil.