|
|
|
You can get e-magazine links on WhatsApp. Click here
|
|
|
|
|
|
DaVinci Gourmet announces Baskan as winner
|
|
Wednesday, 06 May, 2026, 08 : 00 AM [IST]
|
|
Our Bureau, Mumbai
|
DaVinci Gourmet has announced Cetin Alpay Baskan of Turkiye as the winner of the Middle East, India Subcontinent and Africa (MISA) Regional Final of the DaVinci Gourmet Barista Craft Championship 2025–26. Held on April 11, 2026, in Kenya, East Africa, the MISA Regional Final concluded with Baskan now advancing to the Global Final at World of Coffee in Bangkok, Thailand, on May 9, 2026.
Following an intense competition that tested both sensory mastery and technical precision, Baskan emerged victorious to represent MISA on the world stage. In Bangkok, he will compete against the champions from Asia Pacific (APAC) and Latin America (LATAM) for the title of DaVinci Gourmet Barista Craft Champion 2025–26.
Organised under this year’s theme, ‘Espresso Your Flavour’, the championship is designed to celebrate passion, creativity and individuality in coffee craft. Building on the inaugural 2024 edition, it has continued to evolve the programme into a platform that puts the creator behind the counter at the centre, empowering baristas to express their unique point of view through flavour, storytelling and technique.
That spirit was especially visible across the MISA Regional Final, where finalists from Turkiye, India and Kenya brought distinct perspectives shaped by their own coffee cultures, communities and craft traditions. From origin-led storytelling and agricultural insight to contemporary café creativity, the competition reflected a region where modern coffee craft in MISA is as much about people, place and perspective as it is about technical skill. Their performances underscored the region’s fast-evolving coffee scene, and the role of competitions like this in creating visibility, raising standards and strengthening a community of baristas who are helping shape the future of café culture.
Baskan of Loofy’s Roastery came out on top for his ability to blend technical precision with storytelling. His winning recipes included Aegean Breeze, blended espresso with purple basil tea, fennel and tomato juice, balanced with its forest berries syrup and cheesecake sauce. Finished with freeze-dried raspberries and fresh basil, the drink delivered a layered profile that was fresh, herbaceous and expressive.
“This win means a great deal to me because it reflects not just my own journey, but the people, experiences and coffee culture that shaped me along the way. Competing in the MISA Regional Final pushed me to be even clearer about who I am as a barista and what I want to express in the cup. In Bangkok, I want to bring something that is technically precise, but also personal and memorable, something that represents my style, my story and the energy of our region,” said Baskan.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|