
Cup of Excellence is the most prestigious competition and auction for high-quality coffee. The meticulous oversight that coffee undergoes in the Cup of Excellence competition is unprecedented in the specialty coffee industry. Each year, thousands of coffee varieties are submitted for competition. The winning coffees are sold at a global online auction for high prices. The majority of the proceeds from the auction go directly to the farmers.
What is the COE Competition?
The Cup of Excellence competition has pioneered and emphasized integrity and transparency in the coffee industry, ensuring the value of coffees and the rights of the winning farmers. Jury members score the beans in a blind-tasting format. Additionally, each lot participating in the competition is recorded throughout the entire process. This way, the winning coffee can be traced back to the farm and the specific lot.
Since 1999, the Cup of Excellence (COE) program has set standards for increasing the premiums that farmers can receive for their competition coffees. These funds enable farmers to invest more, build infrastructure, and provide necessary tools to improve their farm’s economic model. COE funds coffee farmers in various countries to encourage and motivate them, recognizing and honoring their hard work and dedication.
The Process of Finding the COE Champion
SCREENING:
Participants register and submit their lots for the competition. The top 150 lots scoring above 86 points will move on to Round 1.
ROUND 1: NATIONAL JUDGING
90 lots and over 1,080 cups of coffee scoring 86 points and above are selected for Round 2, judged by national judges.
ROUND 2: NATIONAL JUDGING
40 lots and over 1,120 cups of coffee scoring 86 points and above are selected for Round 3, judged by international judges.
ROUND 3: INTERNATIONAL JUDGING
40 lots and over 1,080 cups of coffee selected from previous rounds will advance. This round chooses 30 lots and 840 cups of coffee rated highest (above 87 points).
ROUND 4: INTERNATIONAL JUDGING
Winning lots: 30 coffees with the highest scores (above 87 points).
The top 10 rated lots in the entire competition will receive awards. These lots will be included in the worldwide auction.
Thus, it takes 8,720 cups of coffee for COE to determine the champion.
Results of the Ethiopia Cup of Excellence 2021
Cup of Excellence. Each coffee has been cupped at least five different times during the competition process. The winning lots consist of the top 30 coffees scoring above 87 as rated by Global Coffee Centers.
National Winners. Coffees scoring 85 points and above during the International Jury phase, as rated by both national and international juries of COE, are recognized as winners. Each of these coffees has also been cupped at least five different times during the tasting process.
ETHIOPIA SIDAMO ARBEGONA COE #9
Currently, at the 3C Roastery showroom, you can enjoy coffee beans ranking #9 at COE Ethiopia 2021: Ethiopia Sidamo Arbegona.
Roast Levels: there will be 2 roast levels for customers to choose from.
Light Roast: Pour-over, Handbrew.
Medium Roast: Espresso, Coldbrew.
Never before has it been so easy to enjoy award-winning specialty coffee from COE. You can also order Ethiopia Sidamo Arbegona here.