A total of 12 local baristas representing well-known cafes in Brunei flew off to Manila, the Philippines to compete in the ASEAN Barista Team Championships, marking the first participation from local baristas outside of the Sultanate.
The objective of joining the competition is to give baristas in Brunei’s coffee scene a new perspective of what coffee in the region offers, apart from looking into the transactional aspects of the business, said Firdaus Omar, leading the delegation.
“We aim to find ways in improving our quality, service experience, and gain connections with baristas around the region,” added Firdaus.
He hoped that it will inspire more baristas to improve on their skills, learn and obtain knowledge as there’s much more in specialty coffee than just opening and operating a café.
“It’s really about putting Brunei Darussalam on the regional map, too, because we have never participated in any type of regional competitions. It’s our way of trying to put our best foot forward and showcase our local talents’ abilities,” he said.
The event which began yesterday was held at the SMX Convention Centre in Manila. – Khayr Zakariyya
