Stage 01Qualifier
6baristas
Espresso + milk drink
Everyone makes one espresso and one milk drink of their choice.
Round 2 · Sat 17 Oct · Cairo
Your morning coffee, on a real bar.
6 home baristas. One espresso, one milk drink.
Where home baristas get a real bar
In the Home Barista Competition, judges score the coffee you make at home. 6 home baristas make two drinks, an espresso and a milk drink, across 2 stages.
You get 10 minutes on the bar. Machine, grinder, beans from Roaster ROR and milk are all there. The judges score taste and look.
It's for people who make coffee at home and want to try a real café bar. Professional baristas can't enter.
6Competitors
2Drinks
10Minutes on the bar
100Points
In short
A simple espresso and milk-drink competition for home baristas in Egypt, hosted by The Corner Community at Kamelizer Co-Coffee, with bar setup and competition coffee by Roaster ROR.
Ways to be there
Compete
Take one of 6 spots
For people who make coffee at home and have never been paid to. Two minutes to apply.
Register
Watch in person
Watch it live
Guests get in with an Egypt Coffee Festival ticket. Doors open 3:30 PM, and you can explore the festival in the break.
30% off with code
Get tickets
ECFXTHECORNERCOMMUNITY
Follow online
Cheer from home
Live stories from the bar and the results, on The Corner Bundle's Instagram.
Follow on InstagramTwo drinks. Two stages.
At every stage, you make the same two drinks: one espresso and one milk drink. The best scores go through to the next stage.
Stage 02Final
3baristas
Same two drinks
You make the espresso and the milk drink again, this time in front of everyone. Use the judges' notes from the qualifier.
6→3→1Home Barista of Round 2
Simple rules
There are five rules.
- Two drinksOne espresso and one milk drink. For the milk drink, pick a latte, cappuccino or flat white.
- 10 minutesYou have 10 minutes on the bar to make both drinks.
- Bring nothingThe machine, grinder, beans, milk and cups are all on the bar.
- Who can enterYou make coffee at home and you're 18 or older. No professional baristas.
- JudgingJudges score each drink on taste and look. If it's a tie, the better-tasting drinks win.
Barista no. ___Stage ___/ 100
Scoresheet
| Espresso | 40 |
|---|---|
| Taste | 25 |
| Look (crema, colour) | 15 |
| Milk drink | 40 |
| Taste | 25 |
| Milk texture & look | 15 |
| On the bar | 20 |
| Clean station | 10 |
| Finished inside 10:00 | 10 |
| Total | 100 |
Every competitor gets their scoresheet back, with the judges' notes.
Who's tasting your cup
Shehab Salah Eldin
Judge · Barista trainer · Coffee roaster- 1st Egyptian Latte Art Championship
- 2nd Egyptian AeroPress Championship
Ghada Ezz
Judge · Round 1 winnerWon Round 1 of the Home Barista Competition and judges Round 2.
6 spots on the bar
We announce the 6 competitors after we pick them. Each one gets a profile here with their city, home setup and favourite drink.
Line-up announced Monday 12 October
Claim a spot
Schedule
Saturday 17 October, Kamelizer Co-Coffee, District 5. Doors open at 3:30. Stage 1 starts at 4:00, then a break to explore the Egypt Coffee Festival, and the final starts at 7:00. The day ends at 7:45.
- Doors openGuests arrive. Competitors check in and try the machine with Roaster RORAll
- Stage 1 · Qualifier6 baristas, 3 at a time. Top 3 go throughLive
- Explore the Egypt Coffee FestivalSee the rest of the festivalAll
- Stage 2 · FinalTop 3, in front of everyoneLive
- Winner announcedEvery competitor gets their scoresheet backAll
What you take home
The winner takes home the machine.
The prize
LePresso BrewJet Portable
Take your coffee everywhere.
The Round 2 winner takes home this portable espresso machine. It makes espresso at the office, in the car or on a trip.
The winner also gets coffee from Roaster ROR and credit at Kamelizer Co-Coffee.
Every competitor gets their scoresheet back, with the judges' notes on both drinks.
Take a spot on the bar
Takes about 2 minutes. If more than 6 people apply, we pick from your answers and message everyone on WhatsApp, in or not.
- Fill in the form. Be honest about your setup. There's no wrong answer.
- We confirm by WhatsApp by Monday 12 October.
- You get the rulebook and the scoresheet to practise with.
FAQ
Do I need café experience?
No. The competition is for people who brew at home. If you work or have worked as a professional barista, this one isn't for you, but come watch.
What do I make?
Two drinks: one espresso and one milk drink. For the milk drink, pick a latte, cappuccino or flat white. You have 10 minutes for both.
Do I bring anything?
No. The machine, grinder, beans from Roaster ROR, milk and cups are all on the bar.
I've never used a café machine. Is that OK?
Yes. You get time to try the machine before the qualifier, and someone from the team is on the bar to show you how it works.
How are drinks judged?
The judges score each drink on taste and look, out of 40. You get up to 20 more points for a clean station and finishing on time. The full scoresheet is on this page.
My hands shake when people watch. Should I still apply?
Yes. Most people's hands shake in the qualifier, and the judges know it. Make your coffee the way you do at home.
What does the winner get?
The LePresso BrewJet, a portable espresso machine, plus coffee from Roaster ROR and credit at Kamelizer Co-Coffee.
Is it free?
Competing is free. Apply with the form and we invite 6 home baristas. Guests need an Egypt Coffee Festival ticket, and the code ECFXTHECORNERCOMMUNITY gives 30% off.
Can I talk to the judges in Arabic?
Yes. Egyptian Arabic, English or a mix of both.
Can I just come to watch?
Yes, with an Egypt Coffee Festival ticket. Get one here and use code ECFXTHECORNERCOMMUNITY for 30% off. Doors open at 3:30 PM on Saturday 17 October at Kamelizer Co-Coffee, District 5.