JUDGES

Abdulla Al Yammahi, also known as Abdullah Al Hamour, is a researcher, author and heritage expert in the United Arab Emirates. Among his most notable works are “Adab Sab Al Gahwa fi Al Emarat 95 Adaban” & “Sin3 Al Majalis fi Al Emarat”. He has a bachelor’s degree in Law and a Diploma in Cultural Heritage and has published many articles in the Dirasat Magazine of the Emirate’s Writers Union.
Al Yammahi is a General Supervisor in the Department of Majalis and Community Development Projects in the Emirate of Fujairah. His knowledge and expertise were integral in the inscription of Arabic Coffee (Gahwa) on the UNESCO Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity in 2015. Al Yammahi has been a guest heritage lecturer and speaker at several government entities, universities and schools in the UAE, as well as a guest speaker on television and radio shows, talking about Emirati customs and traditions. He also has a monthly column in Marawed Magazine, an initiative from Sharjah Institute for Heritage.

Mohammed Al Sharhan is considered one of the most famous narrators of popular literature in the Arabian Peninsula and the Gulf, according to the testimony of a large number of professors of thought, knowledge and prominent writers in the Arab press, and a lot has been written about him. His continuous participation in his interesting novels was accompanied by his attractive style through his presentation and the poem through the audio and visual media through multiple television channels. The narrator, Muhammad Al-Sharhan, is distinguished from other narrators by his memorization of old and new poems, his good reciting of poetry, his introduction to the viewer with movement, and all expressions of interesting description, as if you were seeing a filmed film in front of you. He wrote three parts of his book “Salifa wa Qaseeda”, each part contains the thirty two poems which is available in libraries.

Rashed bin Futtaimah Al Mansoori was born in Al Dhafrah Region. He is a poet, media personality and the presenter of ‘Hal Al Waha’ (People of the Oasis) on Al-Waha TV, He writes in the local dialect on a wide range of topics such as the homeland, giving praise, social issues, wisdom, courtship and hunting.
Rashid bin Futtaimah has participated in numerous poetry festivals and evenings such as the Million’s Poet.
I was honored to join Gahwa Championships judges committee last year. It is my favorite hobby since my childhood, and I will never forget my father’s grace in this field, may God have mercy on him.

Bin Kulayb brings with him his knowledge of Gahwa traditions from central Arabia with the understanding of regional differences. He fell in love with different cultures and their impact on the lives of peoples, he grasped their intellectual and heritage products and tried to understand them in order to deepen interdependence and enhance coexistence between civilizations. He travelled across the world to discover sources of coffee and its associated cultural heritage, to countries such as Ethiopia, Costa Rica, Cuba, and Mexico. He was a judge at the Gahwa Championships in 2019 as well Darb Al Finjal in Saudi Arabia in 2022.

Nooran Albannay is a certified coffee lover by passion, an artist and experienced architect by profession. She was the first Emirati national “Q” Arabica Grader. She is also Authorized Specialty Coffee Association Trainer in Barista pathway and the founder and Chief Executive Officer of Coffee Architecture and section Coffee Roaster in Abu Dhabi. In addition, Nooran has attended many coffee cupping workshops, and competed in different coffee championships as a barista.

Osamah Al Awwam is the founder and manager of one of Saudi Arabia’s first speciality coffee roasters, The Roasting House. His passion and interest in coffee turned into a business and it has quickly become one of the region’s leading coffee roasteries. He is a certified professional coffee roaster, an SCA certified cupper and has spoken at many coffee events to share his knowledge and experience in the field, including the Producer and Roaster Forum: Guatemala 2019.
Al-Awwam hosted, co-organised and presented several local and regional competitions including at the 2018 Saudi Barista Championship, 2019 Saudi AeroPress Championship and the 2019 Saudi Cup Tasters Championship.

RA coffee professional & roaster and certified Q grader won the first place in uae cup tasters championship as the first emirate to win this title.
Represented the uae in the world championships in Milano, Italy.
And holding the second place aeropress regional title.And an employee at the government sector with an engineering degree.

Sara Al-Ali was a finalist in the 2017 World Cezve/Ibrik Championship and was awarded second place at the 2017 MENA Cezve/Ibrik Championship. Al-Ali is the founder of THAT Boutique Cafe in Riyadh and the Host for MAP IT FORWARD middle east podcast.

Al-Ali is a certified SCA Trainer in three modules Sensory, Brewing & Barista. She is a Coach for Barista Hustle middle east. Sara is a sensory judge for the Qahwa competition in Abu Dhabi 2019 and the Saudi Barista championships was the Head judge for UAE National Brewers Cup finals in 2022.

Sara is a certified Q Arabica Grader from the Coffee Quality Institute and has played a vital role in the growth of the specialty coffee industry in Saudi Arabia and the MENA region.

Amna AlHarmoudi was the first Emirati female to participate as a barista at the National Latte Art competition. She has regularly attended coffee-related courses to develop her skills and knowledge in the industry. During the years, Amna has been a contributor to the specialty coffee industry and supports all coffee enthusiasts in the community In addition she is a certified “Q” Grader from SCA.

Reyner Oswald Herbert is a Certified World Brewers Cup and Coffee Roasting Championship Sensory Judge. He is also Licensed Q Arabica Grader since 2018 and actively contributing as Judge Coordinator for SCA Sanctioned Indonesia Coffee Event for the last 4 years. He currently oversees coffee and business operations at Vulcan Coffee Roasters in Qatar as the Director of Coffee. From sourcing the green bean and leading the Roasting and Quality Control team that trains the baristas that will serve the final cup to the consumers, his job is to provide the best product and services for the clients. Additionally, he owns a café, engages in coffee business advising ,and green bean trade in his home country, Indonesia.

I was never into coffee”. Watching my dad brew each cup of Turkish Ibrik intrigued me. Guests always asked for coffee to be prepared specifically by him, and that sparked my curiosity. One day I asked him to brew me a cup and to my surprise I really enjoyed it! Around that time I was looking into starting my own business, and was searching for an inspiration. I insisted on finding something I would be passionate about. Discovering my passion in life was my biggest challenge. Seven years later,  I can proudly say I achieved that dream. I am very fortunate to have fallen in love with Coffee and the whole process behind it. I admire the attention to details it requires, and the amount of love it needs just to reach your cup.”
Q Arabica Grader 
SCA Coffee Diploma
Authorized SCA Trainer

Director of the Mexican Specialty Coffee Association (AMCCE), where also an AST Instructor and SCA Campus Manager, Event Coordinator of the National body for Barista, Brew, Latte and Roasting Championship in Mexico of World Coffee Events. We work with Coffee Quality Institute to develop quality programs. I am Q Instructor for arabica and robusta and obtained the Q Processing Certificate Levels 1 and 2 of the CQI.
Since 2009 I have served as a certified judge for Barista and Latte Art in the World Coffee Events.
I coordinated the first three Cup of Excellence competitions in Mexico, and I’m a founder of a non-profit for Women in coffee in Mexico.
I have a bachelor's degree in Culinary Arts.

Chef Mariam Almansoori discovered her passion for cooking at an early age while spending time in the kitchen with her parents and watching Julia Childs on television. Born and raised in United Arab Emirates, the Emirati national has always dreamt of one day opening her own restaurant and took the steps to make it happen in 2021 when she opened the doors to Montauk Boutique Café & Restaurant in Al Bateen, Abu Dhabi

Jerry Flores is originally from the Philippines, and the United Arab Emirates is his 2nd home from the last 12 years. I studied Liberal Arts Major in Philosophy. Currently employed as the Brand Beverage Manager of Café Bateel who manages the over-all Bar and Coffee Operations and Menu Development across the GCC.
He’s the first Champion of the Beverage Concept award of the Gahwa Championship 2019 and have many years of experience as Professional Coffee Trainer and Beverage Development, International Certifications from Specialty Coffee Associations and Professional Coffee Certification. He also actively participates in National Coffee Competition as a Sensory and Technical Judge.