Cup of Excellence

Founded in 2000, the Cup of Excellence (CoE) is run by Alliance for Coffee Excellence (ACE), a 501(c)(6) tax-exempt organization, that operates for the benefit of its members and the coffee industry, and is often referred to as coffee competition. The format goes as such: samples are submitted, up to two samples per producer free of charge, and they will be cupped and graded through three phases, the Preselection Phase, the National Phase, and the International Phase. Coffees that pass all three phases, and meet the parameters of each round, and make it to the final auction are graded a minimum of 5x times. Coffees at auction fetch high prices from bidders around the world. Pretty neat!

Coffees that are submitted, and particularly those that win, can make a huge impact to a producers livelihood as well as neighboring growers and communities. Prices far higher than the going market rate, the Cup of Excellence program guarantees winning farms and producers receive the premiums they’ve worked so hard for.

Because it benefits all producers across an entire country, we think that referring to it as simply a “competition” doesn’t give it the credit it deserves. It connects all parts of the industry with one another on a scale we’ve not experienced anywhere else in coffee. Idle Hands has had the privilege of working with many folks, producers, exporters and cooperatives, who we’ve met simply from attending the week of the International Phase, who haven’t submitted coffees to the competition, and we’ve the privilege of working with many who have! And who’ve won!

These unique experiences have gained us a tremendous appreciation for the program, producers and the diversity that comes along with it. From simply experiencing world class coffees, to cupping and grading those coffees with people with from all over the world who can share different palates and tasting experiences different to ours.

To round out our full appreciation for the program, Peter is a Board Member for the Alliance for Coffee Excellence, and Ricky is a Head Judge for the Cup of Excellence.