December 15, 2011

First-ever Barista Certification Course Held in Ecuador

Country Enters Elite Level of High-Value Global Coffee Sector

For the first time in its history, Ecuador now has 10 Specialty Coffee Association of Europe (SCAE)-certified baristas. Thanks to support from ProEcuador, the anchor firm Cafecom, and the USAID-funded Programa de Desarrollo Económico Local (PRODEL), the first SCAE certification course recently took place in Quito, Ecuador.

International coffee maestro Luigi Lupi, a European champion barista who manages the Escuela Latteart Coffee School in Pontenure, Italy, taught the 16-hour SCAE course.

Milestone for Ecuador’s Coffee Industry

Until now, only three countries in Latin America did not have certified baristas—Paraguay, Bolivia and Ecuador—which prevented them from participating in the World Barista Championship.

But now, for the first time, Ecuador will be represented on the world stage of baristas, elevating the country to the highest levels of coffee preparation, in line with its high-quality coffee production.

High-level Firms and Vendors Participate

Twenty-five coffee aficionados participated in the event, representing a number of important coffee firms and vendors from throughout Ecuador, including Café Bombons, Café Vélez, Cafeto, Cafecom, El Café, Escoffee, Hoja Verde, Hotel Palace, Sweet and Coffee, Promotora Ecuatoriana de Café de Colombia, Gastroport, and Hotel Oro Verde.

The participants learned how to grind coffee, heat milk, and prepare classic Italian coffee drinks using latte arte designs and techniques.

Value Chain Program Works to Fight Rural Poverty

Ecuador, located between two of the world’s leading producers of coca and cocaine, faces continued challenges from illicit activities and its high rural poverty rates.

ACDI/VOCA’s PRODEL works to fight rural poverty in Ecuador and create licit livelihood opportunities through targeted economic development activities. The program uses a value chain approach, identifying and addressing major opportunities and constraints to growth while ensuring sustainable impact at the household level.

Learn more about our work in Ecuador.

Pictured at top left: Students learn how to prepare a cappuccino during the barista training held in Quito, Ecuador. For the first time, the country has 10 baristas certified by the Specialty Coffee Association of Europe.