Win one of four Meraki home espresso machines at Dubai’s Home Barista Championship

Four people attending The Home Barista Championship in Dubai this Saturday, 24 October, will each win a Meraki Home Espresso Machine worth approximately AED 8,000.

And with tickets now reduced to AED 175, including VAT, I think that’s a pretty good reason to come along.

We’re giving away three Meraki machines in a live draw at Flat12 Cafe. Every paying audience member who attends will receive one entry, and you don’t need to own a Meraki or know anything about making espresso to participate.

There’s also a fourth machine to be won through Instagram.

With AED 14,000 in cash prizes for the competitors, we’re giving away more than AED 45,000 in prizes at our first Home Barista Championship.

The event runs from 2pm to 7pm, with complimentary coffee and snacks, opportunities to try the Meraki machines and nine home baristas competing for the championship title.

Get your AED 175 ticket for The Home Barista Championship.

Three audience members will each win a Meraki espresso machine

We’re giving away three Meraki Home Espresso Machines, each worth approximately AED 8,000.

All you need to do is purchase an audience ticket for AED 175 and attend the championship. Every paid ticket provides one entry into the live draw, and we’ll select three winners from the eligible ticket holders who are present.

That’s it.

You won’t need to make an espresso, demonstrate your latte art skills or answer questions about coffee. And you don’t need to own a Meraki to enter.

If you’ve been considering upgrading your home espresso setup, Saturday could turn out rather well for you.

Why is everyone talking about Meraki?

Meraki is trending at the moment. For good reason.

It’s beautiful. It won a 2025 iF Design Gold Award, a 2025 Red Dot Design Award and a German Design Award.

It’s capable. In May, TechRadar praised the espresso quality and the way its smart features support manual brewing. And earlier this month, Esquire named the Meraki its Best Rotary-Pump Espresso Machine in its 2026 Gadget Awards.

The machine really is a no-brainer. Meraki brings a grinder, dual boilers, a rotary pump, integrated scales and touchscreen controls together in one home espresso machine. You still have control over how you prepare your coffee, but there’s considerable assistance available when you want it.

You’ll have an opportunity to try the machine yourself at Saturday’s championship.

And four audience members will also have the pleasure of taking one home.

Nine home baristas compete for AED 14,000 in cash

Of course, there’s an actual coffee competition taking place on Saturday, too. The first ever Home Barista Championship.

Nine Meraki owners will compete for the inaugural Home Barista Championship title, with their skills tested across espresso preparation, latte art and signature drinks.

The winner receives AED 8,000 in cash (coincidentally, the price of a new Meraki). Second place takes home AED 4,000, and third place gets AED 2,000.

Our judging panel includes former competitors from The Smallest Home Barista Show, and we’ll have an MC guiding everyone through the afternoon. Keep your eye on the Home Barista Show instagram page for those announcements.

I’m particularly interested in seeing how the competitors perform.

Making espresso at home, with your own equipment and nobody watching, is one thing. Doing it in front of judges, an audience and eight other people who take their coffee just as seriously is quite another.

There’ll be some nerves, I’m sure.

But that’s part of the appeal. These are people who’ve developed their skills at home, and Saturday is their opportunity to see how those skills hold up under competition conditions.

What does your AED 175 ticket include?

One of the things I’ve learned from organising five Home Barista Shows across Dubai, Sharjah, Cape Town, Johannesburg and Istanbul is that people enjoy getting involved.

They want to use the equipment, make coffee and compare their experiences with other enthusiasts.

We’re bringing that same approach to the championship.

You’ll be able to watch the competition, taste drinks prepared by the competitors and try the Meraki espresso machines yourself. Every paying attendee will also receive a goodie bag from Brewing Gadgets.

And, of course, your ticket includes an entry into the live draw for one of four Meraki espresso machines we’re giving away.

We’ve reduced tickets to AED 175

When we announced The Home Barista Championship earlier this month, tickets were priced at AED 350.

We’ve now reduced that price by half.

I want as many people from Dubai’s home coffee community as possible to experience the first championship, and I hope the new price makes it easier for people to attend.

For AED 175, including VAT, you get five hours of coffee, competition, complimentary refreshments, opportunities to try the equipment and a chance to win an espresso machine worth approximately AED 8,000.

If you’ve been thinking about attending, I’d encourage you to book your ticket now.

There’s a fourth Meraki to win on Instagram

In addition to the three machines we’re giving away at Flat12, there’s another Meraki Home Espresso Machine available through a separate Instagram competition.

To enter:

• you need to purchase an audience ticket
• follow @brewing_gadgets, @merakitechglobal and @homebaristashow.
• tag three friends in the official giveaway post and
• share it to your Instagram story.

The competition is open to UAE residents aged 18 and over who hold an event ticket. Entries close at 11:59pm on Friday, 23 October, and the winner will be announced during Saturday’s championship.

You can enter both giveaways with the same ticket, provided you meet the requirements for each.

Join us at Flat12 Cafe this Saturday

The inaugural Home Barista Championship takes place at Flat12 Cafe in Dubai on Saturday, 24 October 2026, from 2pm to 7pm.

The event is presented by The Home Barista Show, with the support of Brewing Gadgets and Meraki.

Nine home baristas will compete for AED 14,000 in cash prizes and the championship title.

Three paying audience members will each win a Meraki Home Espresso Machine worth approximately AED 8,000. A fourth machine will be awarded through Instagram.

And throughout the afternoon, there’ll be plenty of coffee to drink, equipment to try and people to meet.

Tickets are AED 175 per person, including VAT.

I’d love to see you there.

And who knows? You might go home with a Meraki.

Book your ticket for The Home Barista Championship.

Frequently asked questions

When and where is The Home Barista Championship in Dubai?

The inaugural Home Barista Championship takes place on Saturday, 24 October 2026, from 2pm to 7pm at Flat12 Cafe in Dubai, UAE. The event features nine home baristas competing in espresso preparation, latte art and signature drinks. Audience members can watch the competition, taste coffee and try Meraki espresso machines.

How much are tickets for The Home Barista Championship?

Audience tickets cost AED 175 per person, including VAT. The original ticket price of AED 350 has been reduced by 50%. Admission includes complimentary coffee and snacks, a goodie bag, opportunities to use Meraki machines and one entry into the live draw for three Meraki Home Espresso Machines.

How can I win a Meraki espresso machine?

Purchase a paid audience ticket for The Home Barista Championship and attend the event on Saturday, 24 October. Every paid ticket provides one entry into the live draw for three Meraki Home Espresso Machines, each worth approximately AED 8,000. You must be present when the draw takes place to be eligible.

Do I need to own a Meraki espresso machine to attend?

No. Anyone interested in coffee can attend The Home Barista Championship, regardless of whether they own a Meraki machine. Meraki ownership is required for the nine championship competitors, but there is no equipment ownership requirement for audience members. Visitors will also have opportunities to try the machines during the event.

What is included in my AED 175 ticket?

Your ticket includes admission to the five-hour championship, complimentary drinks and snacks, opportunities to taste the competitors’ coffee, access to Meraki machines for practical experiences and a goodie bag from Brewing Gadgets. Every paying attendee also receives one entry into the live draw for three Meraki espresso machines.

What prizes are available at The Home Barista Championship?

The total prize pool exceeds AED 45,000. The championship winner receives AED 8,000 in cash, second place receives AED 4,000 and third place receives AED 2,000. Three Meraki Home Espresso Machines will be awarded to paying audience members through a live draw. A fourth machine is available through a separate Instagram competition.

How do I enter the Instagram Meraki giveaway?

To enter, purchase an audience ticket, follow @brewing_gadgets, @merakitechglobal and @homebaristashow on Instagram, tag three friends in the official giveaway post and share it to your story. The competition is open to UAE residents aged 18 and over who hold an event ticket. Entries close at 11:59pm on Friday, 23 October 2026.