Cup of Excellence is known for discovering beautiful coffees, as well as celebrating and rewarding farmer excellence – since inception it has returned US $55,181,409.99 to coffee producers. This year we’re showcasing CoE coffees from the newest, oldest and ‘hottest’ competitions in a Single O Cup of Excellence Tour…
We’re kicking off next week in a taste euphoria, with four headline coffees from last years’ comps, which buyer Wendy sums up as “outrageous, unbelievable, super-forward, total obvious STARS.”
Get into it like a mosh pit, coffee lovers!
El Cerro Peru is the opening act, discovered in Peru’s first ever Cup of Excellence competition in 2017, which was a stage for the recent explosion of stellar small specialty producers. The jury scored five coffees 90+, with Wendy saying “it’s the best top 10 table I have ever cupped.” We have 2nd place winner El Cerro to share with you, a washed Caturra from the Cajamarca region produced by local coffee ‘hall of fame’ producer Efraín Carhuallocllo Salvador. The taste? Orange blossom, white nectarine and a dense lingering finish. A sublime power ballad! You’ll want an encore or three.
Travelling over to the competition represented by the most diverse growing regions, Colombia, we then bring you Llano Redondo Colombia COE #4, produced by Angel María López Loaiza in Nariño near the town of Buesaco. While this southern region has hauled the lion’s share of CoE hardware over recent years, this was Angel Maria’s first crack at Cup of Excellence. With the support of his son Jesus, they produced an extraordinary coffee that placed a formidable 4th. In the cup? Passionfruit, juicy blood orange, complex acidity and a heavy texture. Raging electric guitars.
Onto a double act from the first ever Cup of Excellence country, Brazil, which at inception in 1999, helped set new standards of integrity and transparency in the coffee industry. No small feat. Fast forward to 2017, it was the first year that both Pulped Natural and Natural Brazil competitions were held together. Attested by Yama, our Tokyo roaster who was part of the jury, this duet boasted 24 cupping sessions of 175 samples over 7 days. To go out with a bang on our CoE tour, we’re rocking one from each process.
From the Pulped Natural competition, where four coffees scored 90 + points (including this one), we bring you Fazenda Das Amoras Brazil #2, produced by Luiz Henrique Macedo Teixeira in the Matas de Minas region. Dedicated to working in his pristine coffee fields and investing in his farm, Luiz Henrique is described by CoE as “making his farm a powerhouse in the production of specialty coffee by adding to the gifts of nature.” Caramel, honey, crisp, orange, stone fruit. Some real smooth R&B.
From the Naturals arena, and to close out the tour, is Fazendas Klem Brazil Natural #3, produced in the Matas de Minas region by César Klem. The Klem family, with 83 year old eco-innovator Nagipe Viana Klem at the helm, are pioneering producers, elevating growing and processing practices to new specialty heights, and expanding to 11 farms around Luisburgo along with world-wide recognition in their field. This natural coffee comes from the 100% mountaintop field of Fazenda Das Amoras. The notes? Tropical, rum, dark chocolate. Think fusion – Ska, Latin, jazz – get front stage!
CURRENTLY TOURING (& ROASTING): El Cerro, Peru
