The Maldives Aeropress Championship made a return on Saturday following a seven-year hiatus.

Family Room Coffee proudly hosted the third Maldives AeroPress Championship on Saturday, at its Hulhumalé café, bringing the national competition back for the first time since 2018. The day brought together 22 participants, from baristas at local coffee shops to passionate home brewers, all competing for the chance to represent the Maldives on the world stage. Malika was crowned national champion and will now travel to Mexico City for the World AeroPress Championship final at Frontón Bucareli on 6 December, while Zuha and Hisham put in outstanding performances to secure 2nd and 3rd place, respectively.

Organizers highlighted that the tournament’s unique format breaks down professional barriers. “In the AeroPress Championship, both baristas and home brewers can participate. Through the AeroPress, everyone gets a chance to brew, controlling their own techniques and parameters,” explained Ahmed Afrah, Competition Director and Head Judge representing Family Room Coffee.

“This year’s champion isn’t a working barista, but Mal, a young person who brews AeroPress at home. Hosting these competitions shows people that specialty coffee can be pursued as a profession, giving local talent a platform to set goals and gain international exposure.”

For the newly crowned champion, Malika (Mal), stepping into her very first competition proved to be a rewarding leap of faith. “I’m a home brewer, and I’ve always loved making and enjoying a great cup of coffee myself,” she reflected. “I’ve always been drawn to exploring different coffees and discovering what makes a really great brew. But, what really drew me to this opportunity was the chance to learn more about coffee as a craft, challenge myself, step outside of my comfort zone and experience it alongside people who genuinely love and care about this craft.”

She shared that the most exciting aspect for her is having the opportunity to represent the Maldives, noting how much she values the sense of community in coffee and that she is thrilled to bring her country to an international stage.