Fabio Dotti, 21 years old, is the winner of the fourth international edition of the Espresso Italiano Champion, the barista competition organised by the Italian Espresso National Institute (Inei). After an entire year of challenges in eight countries around the world (Italy, Japan, China, Korea, Taiwan, Thailand, Bulgaria and Germany) involving over 400 baristas, just four professionals made it to the final: Sun Lei (China), Ruffy Chan (Taiwan), Piyaphong Sihawong (Thailand) and Fabio Dotti (Italy). 

15 baristas from 8 countries competing at the international semi-finals of the Espresso Italiano Champion 2017: only 4 will make it to the international final and compete for the title. The international semi-finals of Espresso Italiano Champion 2017, the Italian Espresso National Institute’s barista competition, will take place at Host 2017 in Milan on Sunday 21 October, the international final on Sunday 22 October.

The path taken by the competitors to gain their place in the semi-final phase was very long. Over 40 contests were held in 8 different countries (Italy, Japan, China, Korea, Taiwan, Thailand, Bulgaria and Germany) and more than 400 professionals took this challenge. Selection brought 15 competitors the semi-final which will be held on Sunday 21 Octobet at the following booths:

• La Genovese, Pav.14, Stand H22, 11:00 AM
• Dersut Caffè, Pav.14 Stand L39, 2:00 PM
• Essse Caffè, Pav.18, Stand B50 C57, 2:00 PM
• Mokador, Pav.18 Stand D50 E51, 2:30 PM

The International Institute of Coffee Tasters (Iiac) is at Host 2017 with a series of events devoted to the Sensory analysis of the Italian espresso. At Host 2017, in Milan from 20 to 24 October, the International Institute of Coffee Tasters (Iiac) offers three events devoted to the Sensory analysis of the Italian espresso, in collaboration with three different partners.

The first is a seminar dedicated to Italian espresso tasting, which will be held on Friday 20 October from 2 pm to 2.45 pm as part of Cafe Chronology, a show organized by Specialty Coffee Association (Sca) and World Coffee Events (Wce) in partnership with MUMAC. An opportunity to discover the Iiac tasting method, the same used in Italian Espresso National Institute (Inei) certification. The seminar will be conducted in English by Carlo Odello, Iiac member of the board.

Iiac will also provide scientific support for Caffè Milani in its historical tasting sessions throughout the whole fair. Today’s espresso does not have the same aroma as the espresso sipped by our grandparents and great-grandparents. What was the coffee profile of the past and what will it be in the future? To answer this question, Caffè Milani restores and displays coffee machines from three different eras, with the recreation of the blends used in the past and a guide available for visitors.

On Monday 23 October, from 2.30 to 3.30 pm, IIAC will be the guest of Mumac Academy, with a new seminar on sensory analysis, taking advantage of the opportunity to study in more detail certain technical points tied to the psycho-physiology of the sensory analysis of our coffee. In particular, it will focus on the function of the olfactory system and on the olfactory components of a cup of Italian Espresso. The seminar will be conducted in English by Carlo Odello.

Again at Host 2017, IIAC presents the new edition of Espresso Italiano Tasting at Stand T32 in Pav. 22. This book has been an essential guide for numerous operators in the coffee sector in their training on Italian espresso tasting. The previous edition of 2002 was a bet that paid off for Iiac, who translated it into 11 languages, intended primarily for its own community of associates (more than 10,000 in over 40 countries around the world) and, naturally, for whoever wishes to learn more on the subject.

The new edition of the International Institute of Coffee Tasters’ book, a bestseller in the coffee business, will be presented at Host 2017. The book that has proved essential in the training of many professionals in the coffee business returns with a totally new edition: Espresso Italiano Tasting, guide to the sensory analysis of the Italian espresso. A bestseller right from the first edition in 2002 and a bet that paid off for the International Institute of Coffee Tasters (Iiac), which has translated it into 11 languages, intended principally for its associates (more than 10,000 in over 40 countries around the world) and, naturally, for anyone who wishes to learn more on the subject.

A book with one eye on the future right from the very first edition. “Iiac’s year of foundation puts it among the longest-operating organizations of the sector: 1993. Created to develop coffee tasting methods, its success story has been interwoven with the unique and compelling coffee extraction that is the Italian espresso,” points out Luigi Odello, Iiac Chairman and co-author of the book. “It was clear to the founders of the Iiac right from the start that they needed an accurate method of sensory analysis to measure the characteristics of the Italians’ best-loved cup of coffee.”

A book that serves and is of immediate use primarily to the coffee sector. “Indeed, the coffee industry distinguishes itself inasmuch as it is incredibly fragmented over space and time,” continues Carlo Odello, Iiac advisor and co-author of the volume, “so there is the risk that the different parts fail to understand each other, which is why sensory analysis assumes a crucial role today: it enables the parts involved to discuss the product in an effective manner and contributes to achieving their set objectives, the most worthy of which is to offer a high-quality espresso.”

The new edition of Espresso Italiano Tasting will be presented at Host 2017 in Milan from 20 to 24 October in the area of the Italian National Espresso Institute and the International Institute of Coffee Tasters (Pav. 22, Stand T32).

New certification sessions for Italian Espresso and for Espresso Italiano Trainers will take place in Brescia (Italy) from the 27th to the 30th October 2014, just after the international exhibition Triestespresso.

The Italian Espresso certification programme is run by the Italian Espresso National Institute (Inei) in cooperation with the International Institute of Coffee Tasters (Iiac). It is made up of two modules (M1 Espresso Italiano Tasting and M2 Espresso Italiano Specialist). The two courses will take place on the 27th and 28th October and are valid for the Inei’s certification Italian Espresso.

The certification programme for Espresso Italiano Trainers will immediately follow on the 29th and 30th October. Candidate trainers have to attend two more modules (M3 Senses Brain Sensory Analysis and EIT Espresso Italiano Trainer course). Certified trainers will be entitled to hold the sensory seminar Espresso Italiano Experience on behalf of the Iiac. The content of the seminar includes information on espresso and tasting techniques with the final aim of teaching the students how to assess the quality of Italian coffee. Each student receives a certificate after passing the thoery and tasting exams at the end of the seminar. There are more than 100 Espresso Italiano Trainers in the world.

For more information, please download the PDF or write to carlo.odello@italiantasters.com.