Project Description
Ibrahim Hamza Al Mallouhi
United Arab Emirates
The Espresso Lab
Please tell us a little about yourself:
The Founder of The Espresso Lab & GrandMother Roastery, the first Specialty Coffee House in the UAE.
How did you get started in coffee?:
As for my journey, it started in childhood when I used to observe my grandmother’s interest in buying the green coffee beans, roasting them, and then brewing an authentic cup of coffee. All these attributes triggered my curiosity to learn and research further in this world.
Please list the coffee competitions you have participated in, what year they took place, and your results:
2017 UAE National Brewer Cup Champion
What are you excited to do while you are in Brazil?:
Visiting coffee farms in the world’s biggest coffee producing country.
What was your first amazing experience with coffee?:
Geisha Coffee from Panama which we sourced at The Espresso Lab. This was a high-quality and distinctive green coffee which we roasted at GrandMother Roastery. The tactile impression had a light body, subtle citrus acidity, and vast range of flavours like banana, olive oil, strawberry, and rose.
What is your favorite coffee brewing method and why?:
V60, because this method offers the cleanest, most open, and elegant brew.
What coffee-producing country most interests or excites you?:
Ethiopia, Panama and Honduras (Geisha).
What are your interests outside of coffee?:
I like to go on adventures, such as hiking.
Where do you see yourself in 5 years?:
Owning my own coffee farm (Finca Maryam Bilal), and controlling the quality at every stage of coffee processing, whilst helping the growth of the farmers’ knowledge.
Is there anyone you would like to thank or recognize, or who helped you to prepare for the competition?:
My sunshine (Mom), my love (Rasha), my coach (Romeo Perello), Sasa Sestic, The Espresso Lab Family, GrandMother Roastery Family, ONA Coffee Team, and Project Origin Team.
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