Middle East 2022
A COFFEE ROASTING COMPETITION TO CHALLENGE YOUR SKILLS in roasting and blending
NOW LAUNCHING, MIDDLE EAST
A Shot in the Dark is a coffee roasting competition that has been running for the past 4 years in Southern Africa and is now launching in the Middle East. Enter now to compete for the highest honours.
The competition will kick off in August/September!
Get started with
THE BEANS
Receive the your specialty coffee beans in your competition pack via courier. We can’t wait to taste your roasts of these beans!
Test your
ROASTING Skills
Roasters are able to experiment with beans in the comfort of their own roastery to achieve the best flavour results.
Earn the title of
2022 CHAMPION
The inaugural competition will have just 25 slots available competing for the title of A Shot in the Dark Middle East Champion 2022.
OUR Partners
Genio Roasters – Presenting Global Partner of A Shot in the Dark
SUCAFINA Specialty Coffee – Official Green Competition Coffee Sponsor
BWT water+more – Official Water Filtration Partner
Brewing Gadgets – Official Equipment Partner
DMCC Coffee Centre – Official Venue Partner
Savor Brands – Official Packaging Partner
The Coffee Magazine – Official Hosts and Media Partner
Origins Coffee – Competition Ambassador Saudi Arabia
WHAT'S INCLUDED?
What's included in your entry fee?
-
Competition specialty (85+) green coffee for both cupping and blending sponsored by Sucafina SpecialtyCupping coffee: 20kgBlending coffee: 7kg x2
- The competition entry coffee bags
- A Shot in the Dark stickers for retail resale
- T-shirt for each team member (up to 3)
- Competition water provided by BWT water+more
- All the important information on judging
- Feedback on your roasting skills from industry professional judges
- You are invited to join in a day of workshops where the Prizegiving will also be hosted and the CHAMPION revealed in at the DMCC Coffee Centre, Dubai. Date 20 October 2022
HOW IT WORKS
There are two challenges in this competition:
Cupping & Blending
All Competitors receive the exact same green coffee to roast. There are 3 coffees in each competition pack – One extremely high quality specialty coffee exclusively for the cupping challenge as well as two additional coffees for the blending challenge. Competitors may roast their competition coffee in their own roaster and on their own coffee roasting equipment. This Green Coffee will be sent out to all competitors at the same time.
All coffee will be blind judged by a team of Q-graders using the specially formulated A Shot in the Dark scoresheets.
challenge one
CUPPING
Competitors will submit 500g of the high quality specialty coffee used for the cupping challenge, roasted to its best potential and then submitted to the judges via courier with their roasting notes.
challenge two
BLENDING
Competitors will also have to roast and blend the additional two supplied coffees in addition to their original competition coffee. This will be roasted and blended for their best espresso recipe.
THE JUDGING
The entire competition is blind judged by a panel of Coffee Professionals (Q-graders + Roasters) in a cupping laboratory using the specially formulated A Shot in the Dark judging scoresheets and feedback forms. Each competitor will receive feedback regardless of their final placement.
ENTER NOW
Ready to test your roasting skills and compete for the title of A Shot in the Dark - Middle East Champion 2022?
Every Roaster that wishes to enter A Shot in the Dark, needs to fill out the online Entry Form below and pay the Entry Fee.