How the prestigious Cup Of Excellence coffee competition works
WHAT IS THE CUP OF EXCELLENCE
The Cup of Excellence is the leading coffee competition and auction worldwide. It is held annually in different countries around the world to find the best and tastiest coffee. It is the highest award for coffee. The level of scrutiny that the coffees are under during the competition is unparalleled. All Cup of Excellence participants are tested at least five times during the three-week competition.
Only those coffees that achieve the highest scores move on in the competition. The final winners are awarded and sold through an online auction. Literally hundreds of cups are retasted and scored based on their characteristics. This prestigious Cup of Excellence competition has been held since 1999.
The Cup of Excellence competition is referred to as a kind of Oscar movie in the coffee world.
Currently, eleven coffee producing countries rely on the Cup of Excellence to discover and reward their best coffees and help develop long-term market relationships that are essential for sustainable economic development. The 11 countries selected include Brazil, Colombia, Peru, El Salvador, Costa Rica, Nicaragua, Guatemala, Honduras, Mexico and, from the African continent ,Burundi and Rwanda.
Hundreds of coffee companies around the world trust the Cup of Excellence competition, or Coffee Olympics. The competition reveals incredible coffees created under dignified conditions by farmers for whom coffee is their whole life.
WHY THE COMPETITION IS IMPORTANT
The Cup of Excellence program has set the standard for the premiums farmers can earn for their coffees. It continues to build a much more transparent infrastructure and gives farmers the tools they need to improve the economic model of their farms. It also encourages farmers to be motivated to experiment with new coffee varieties and new techniques. Farmers are then happy to try new varieties and techniques because they know that their hard work and effort can be recognised and, above all, rewarded financially.
Since its inception, the COE has used the program to identify build relationships with farmers even after their coffees are purchased through online auctions. This direct business benefit is huge for the market and the farmers and creates much greater sustainability for both parties. The competition itself has helped the coffee industry better understand and appreciate the flavour profiles of rare coffees and understand that these are the coffees that increase consumer loyalty.
WHO IS ALLOWED TO PARTICIPATE IN THE COMPETITION
The Cup of Excellence program is designed to allow every farmer in the country to submit one sample at no cost.
It is one of the few competitions that has a level playing field and strives to promote equal access and success for all farmers regardless of size or financial status.
WHO JUDGES THE COFFEES IN THE COMPETITION
Each country has two separate judges who prepare and judge the coffee during the three phases of the competition. A national jury made up of trained cuppers who live in the country and who pass a rigorous exam. And an international jury made up of qualified cuppers from all over the world. Finally, the jury is made up of approximately 20 - 25 experienced cuppers from around the world.
HOW DO I KNOW IF I AM BUYING A CUP OF EXCELLENCE?
The Cup of Excellence designation is protected by certification and only coffees that win the competition can use this designation. No award is given to the whole farm. It is only awarded to the coffee that has been entered into the competition. The competition process is monitored by an external auditor. Cup of Excellence coffees are sold through an online auction. If you are a secondary buyer from a source other than the auction, the coffee is properly marked with the Cup of Excellence logo.
TRANSPARENCY OF THE CUP OF EXCELLENCE COMPETITION
The Cup of Excellence competition is open and transparent. Farmers can follow the auction to know who is buying their coffee and what the auction price is. There is also a page on the website where anyone can see the commission from the COE auction that will be paid to the organisers. The vast majority of the auction price goes directly to the winning farmer.