Finally, a coffee event for the rest of us

In an industry obsessed with precision, performance, and professional polish, it’s easy to forget the people who actually drink the coffee.

Walk into any major coffee trade show and you’ll be met with a familiar scene: booths packed with high-end espresso machines, industry insiders exchanging war stories and workshop after workshop focused on workflow, profitability, and scaling operations. The energy is electric. The ambition is real. But it’s for the industry.

There are dozens of events for baristas, roasters, café owners, and coffee competitors. But for the home brewer there are virtually none.

Why This Show Exists

The Home Barista Show was created to change that.

I started this event because I saw a gap that nobody else seemed interested in filling. I saw how often home brewers were spoken down to, how often they were left out of the conversation, how rarely their experience was centred. In a world where the loudest voices belong to professionals and gatekeepers, I wanted to create a space that felt like an open invitation. Not another show for industry insiders. A show for the rest of us.

When and Where

The Home Barista Show takes place on Saturday, 14 June 2025, from 3:00pm to 8:00pm at Café Rider in Al Quoz, Dubai. Tickets cost AED175 (incl. Vat) and are available through our partner, Brewing Gadgets.

Only ticket holders will be allowed entry, and the first 100 people through the door will receive an official Home Barista Show Passport—your key to prize draws and giveaways throughout the day.

It Starts with a Cupping

The event opens with a public cupping led by the Café Rider team. It’s a gentle, judgement-free way to introduce attendees to the world of sensory tasting. No complicated scoring sheets. No pressure to perform. Just good coffee and a shared experience designed to build confidence.

Two Stages. One Shared Passion.

After the cupping, the show splits across two stages. What makes this format special is the mix: both stages feature national champions and home brewers, sharing the spotlight equally.

This isn’t a show about who’s better. It’s about what we can learn from each other.

Stage One Highlights

National AeroPress Champion Sonam will lead a high-energy session that blends demonstration with interactive play. He’ll brew his winning recipe in session guaranteed to be fun, fast, and full of practical insights.

The Cafficionados, a couple who brew together daily, will be take you through their Origami dripper routine and chat about how coffee has become part of their relationship.

Jane, the UAE’s Coffee in Good Spirits Champion, will break down how to make coffee cocktails at home without professional bar tools. You’ll taste her creation and leave knowing you can replicate it yourself.

Home brewer Naveed will share his approach to his new favorite brewer, the Hoop. He’ll show how small tweaks can yield meaningful improvements in taste, and why simplicity often beats complexity.

Stage Two Highlights

Home brewer Robert will open the stage by walking through his daily routine using the SD1 dripper. You’ll taste his brew and learn how to improve yours with what you already have.

Mariam, the UAE’s Brewers Cup Champion and creator of the Binocular dripper, will share her full competition routine as well as the innovation behind the Binocular. It’s a rare, behind-the-scenes look at how a world-class recipe is built—step by step, variable by variable.

Aldy, the UAE’s reigning Barista Champion, will show how espresso-based drinks can be made at home. From grind size to milk texture, he’ll break it all down and serve the kind of drink you’ll want to recreate the next morning.

A final home brewer will also be featured—someone selected via our social media competition. They’ll take the stage alongside the champions and share their method with a live audience. It could be someone just like you. Maybe that person is you? Follow The Home Barista Show’s Instagram page to see when that competition launches.

The Big Finish: Champions vs Home Brewers

At 6:00pm, the day ends with a live throw-down: Champions vs Home Brewers.

There’s no prep. No favorites. Just a randomized brew method selected by spinning a wheel, and two teams competing to brew the best cup they can under pressure.

The twist? The audience decides who wins, based on blind tasting.

The Passport and the Prizes

Only the first 100 people to enter the event will receive a Home Barista Show Passport.

That passport will contain the agenda, some other bits and pieces and, most importantly, your ticket into our flash giveaways. Without a passport, you can attend but you won’t be eligible for the draws.

And you’ll want to win. We’ll be giving away premium gear, exclusive merch, and a few things we’re not announcing just yet.

Why Café Rider?

I chose Café Rider because it’s more than just a venue. I wrote about that here.

It’s a community space that reflects everything this show is about. With its open-plan layout, motorcycle workshop energy, and deeply rooted connection to Dubai’s coffee scene, it offers the perfect mix of edge and warmth.

It’s not polished. It’s not corporate. It’s real. Just like the people we’re doing this for.

How to Get Your Ticket

Tickets are available now through our sponsor, Brewing Gadgets. Entry is AED175 (incl. Vat) . Only ticket holders will be admitted. We expect to sell out.

Click here to purchase your ticket

For more information, visit the show’s website.

Come early. Get your passport. Bring your questions.

I’ll see you at Café Rider.