Today, even as São Paulo celebrates its 458th anniversary, nearby Santos, a city that's intrinsically connected to the capital in its history, culture, tourism industry and development, is hosting the last day of the 6th Regional Barista Championship. Santos will be celebrating its 466th anniversary tomorrow.
Promoted the Brazilian Coffee and Barista Association (ACBB), the competition is one of the year's top events for all the involved and something every coffee lover can benefit from as it reveals and confirms talented professionals and brings some fine coffee into the limelight.
The venue is the Coffee Museum (Museu do Café) in Santos, where the treasure which helped tell the common tale of these two cities - and that of millions of Brazilians whose immigrant ancestors arrived in Brazil through Santos to work on coffee farms - is beautifully celebrated.
Keep an eye out for the winners on the ACBB website and hopefully catch up with those pros at their workplace. Some of the best places in Brazil for specialty coffees are manned or owned by champions of this or other tournaments on the ACBB calendar.
And if you're in São Paulo today, party! Many events are free. Check out this schedule, in Portuguese, on G1. Stop by the Municipal Market, also having an anniversary today. Then raise a toast to São Paulo and Santos with a cup of Brazil-grown specialty coffees.
The Winners:
Jan.27, 2012 Update:
Rafael Godoy, from Suplicy Cafés Especiais, is the grand winner of the 6th Regional São Paulo Barista Championship.
The other baristas who qualified for ACBB's 2012 Brazilian Barista Championship are:
- Thiago Sabino (Italian Coffee)
- Denis Guilherme (Octavio Café)
- Lucas Salomão (Libermac)
- Luciana Digna (Il Barista)
- Idaiana Gonçalves (Hotel Emiliano)
Other Champion Coffee in São Paulo:
Brazilian Coffee, With Pride:
Photo: Coffee Museum in Santos. Patricia Ribeiro