Specialty Coffee Association Certification Granted to the HORECA Barista Competition at the Regional Level
The HORECA Barista Competition has recorded a new milestone in its journey, obtaining official certification from the Specialty Coffee Association (SCA) across Lebanon, Jordan, Kuwait and the Sultanate of Oman.
Held as part of HORECA Network, the competition has developed into a key platform bringing together coffee professionals from across the region, where rising talent meets seasoned expertise in an environment that honors precision, creativity, and craftsmanship. With this certification, the competition enters a new phase of development, keeping pace with internationally recognized standards and further reinforcing its position within the global coffee scene.
From espresso preparation to milk-based beverages and signature recipes, all stages of evaluation now follow the global standard systems set by the Specialty Coffee Association, ensuring the highest levels of accuracy, transparency, and credibility. This framework reinforces the competition’s position among leading international championships and contributes to raising the level of professional coffee competitions across the region.
Going beyond the competition itself, the HORECA Barista Competition continues to consolidate its role as a professional meeting point for the sector, where talents are discovered, skills are refined, and relationships are built. This certification further strengthens the event’s ability to connect regional expertise with international best practices and supports the growth of the specialty coffee sector in a more dynamic and competitive way across the region.
“This achievement marks an advanced step within our ongoing commitment to raising industry standards across the various markets in which HORECA operates,” said Joumana Dammous Salamé, managing director of Hospitality Services. “Through this certification, we strengthen the role of our competitions as trusted professional platforms that contribute to developing talent and linking it to global standards and international competitions.”
Yannis Apostolopoulos, CEO of the Specialty Coffee Association, said: “What we have seen across the HORECA Barista Competition is exactly what SCA certification recognizes – professionalism, talent, and standards that hold up on a global stage. Earning that certification across four markets is a significant achievement, and one that speaks directly to the competitors and the commitment behind these events. For a competitor, this means the title they win on their regional stage is evaluated against the same framework used worldwide and that recognition is substantial. That is how we raise the standard of the industry and what this partnership is about.”
About SCA: The Specialty Coffee Association is the largest global organization dedicated to this industry, working to develop it through building an integrated global community and supporting initiatives that make specialty coffee a thriving, equitable and sustainable sector across all parts of the value chain. Through collaboration and progressive approaches, the SCA supports the sector through research and knowledge development, international education, the establishment of standards and the organization of events worldwide.
About Hospitality Services: Founded over 30 years ago, Hospitality Services specializes in organizing hospitality and foodservice exhibitions and events across the region, including HORECA Lebanon, HORECA Jordan, HORECA Kuwait, HORECA Riyadh, HORECA Oman, Salon du Chocolat et de la Pâtisserie Dubai, Salon du Chocolat et de la Pâtisserie Riyadh and Whisky Live Beirut. The company also has three platforms and publications that serve the hospitality and tourism industries: Hospitality News Middle East, Taste & Flavors and Lebanon Traveler.
