We are looking forward to
bringing down a lot of
Ethiopia Cup of Excellence 2021

Origin and Cup of Excellence

The premiere competition to discover the best coffees in the world

Directly from the Alliance for Coffee Excellence, the organizer of the Cup of Excellence Competitions:

Cup of Excellence is the most prestigious competition and auction for high quality coffees. The level of scrutiny that Cup of Excellence coffees undergo is unmatched anywhere in the specialty coffee industry. Each year, thousands of coffees are submitted for consideration, with winning coffees sold in global online auctions at premium prices, with the vast majority of auction proceeds going to the farmers.

The Cup of Excellence competition has pioneered integrity and transparency in the coffee industry, ensuring the value of winning coffees. Each sample entering the competition process is assigned a number known only to the auditor for each competition, and each jury member cups the coffee blind. In addition, each lot is documented through the entire process so that winning coffees are traceable to the farm and exact micro-lot.

Since 1999, the Cup of Excellence (COE) program has set the standard for the increased premiums that farmers have been able to receive for their exemplary coffees. It continues to build a much more transparent infrastructure and gives farmers the tools needed to improve the economic model of their farms. COE raises funds for coffees farmers in coffee growing countries incentivizing and motivating farmers who know there can be a recognition and financial reward for their hard work and effort.

The competition is rigorous, with cupping evaluations conducted over a three-stage process by industry experts: first by a National Jury of about a dozen qualified jurors from the origin country, and then by an International Jury, comprised of approximately 20-25 experienced jurors from around the world. A competition with 300 entries yields an average of 9,000 analyzed cups, with each “Top 10” coffee being cupped at least 120 times. This process ensures elite top-quality consistent coffees enter the COE auction.

 Our green coffee partners Mercanta and its founder Stephen Hurst have been part of Cup of Excellence since its inception, and Stephen recently was part of the hand picked Jury for the 20th anniversary Cup of Excellence in Brazil.  Our dear friend Grant Rattray was also the MD of Cup of Excellence for a number of years. Sadly we have just had the 2nd anniversary of his untimely passing.

For more information:

Origin Coffee and Cup of Excellence

Origin Coffee Roasting has been a supporter of Cup of Excellence since its earliest days and we are one of the few supporters of Cup of Excellence amongst South African roasters.

We have imported many lots over the years so that South Africans can taste some of the rarest and highest quality coffees on earth.

We have personally participated as judges in three CoE competititons – owner Joel Singer, in Rwanda & Bolivia, and our ex-head-roaster Mike MacDonald, also in Rwanda.

I can personally attest to the extraordinarily rigorous competition process and protocols, and the extraordinary quality, skills & experience of the international (and local) jury members.

We have split these lots with other top roasters worldwide including:

  • – Norway – Den Gyldne Bonne
  • – England – Carvetii, Colonna, Dark Woods, Has Bean, Silver Oak Coffee , Bolling Coffee, James Gourmet, Twoday Roasters, Workhouse Coffee Company
  • – Scotland – Dear Green, Artisan Roast
    – Japan – Inoue Coffee
  • – Dubai – Emirati
    – Romania – Origo 
  • – Luxemburg – Knopes Artisan Torrefacteur
  • – France – Caffè Cataldi, Café Lomi
  • – Poland – Java Coffee Company
  • – Singapore – Liberty Coffee
  • – Austria – Kkaffeespezialitaet 
  • – Netherlands – Dutch Barista Coffee
  • – Spain – Cafes El Magnifico
  • – Taiwan – Giuli Co., Ltd
  • – Australia – Melbourne Coffee Merchants, Seven Seeds
  • – Belgiium – Café Knopes
  • – Lithuania – Sviezia Kava
  • – Czech Republic – La Boheme Café

Cup of Excellence Lots Imported by Origin Over the Years

2021

Ethiopia Gumeda Elias Dube – CoE Lot # 19

Score: 87.79
Owner: Gemeda Elias Dube
Region: Shakiso, West Guji

We are proud to have this very special, naturally-processed, lot from the inaugural Ethiopia Cup of Excellence Competition. This is an exceptional, award-winning coffee from Ethiopia, the birthplace of coffee, Ethiopia, which can rightfully claim to be one of the premier coffee origins worldwide.

2019

El Salvador Finca San Jose – CoE Lot # 13 

Score: 88.00
Owner: Montana Estates, S.A. de C.V.
Region: Sonsonate, Apaneca-Ilamatepec

Guatemala Finca San Rafael Urias – CoE Lot # 28

Score: 86.40
Owner: Felix Valdés Q. y Hnas. Sucesores
Region: Sacatepequez, Ciudad Vieja

2018

Brazil Ecoagricola Cafe Ltda— CoE Lot # 25

Score: 86.67
Owner: Ecoagricola Cafe Ltda
Region: Francisco Dumont, Minas Gerais

2017

Guatemala Finca Concepción Pixcayá – CoE Lot # 24 

Score: 86.33
Owner: Manuel Guillermo Zaghi Miron
Region: San Juan Sacatepequez,

Mexico Municipio Huatusco – CoE Lot # 3

Score: 90.50
Owner: Coordinadora De Productores De La Zona Centro Del Estado De Veracruz Sc De Rl De Cv
Region: Huatusco, Veracruz

Honduras Finca El Liquidambo – CoE Lot # 7

Score: 88.81
Owner: Guadalupe Rodriguez
Region: Masaguara, Intibuca

Brazil São Judas Tadeu – CoE Lot # 16

Score: 87.26
Owner: Antonio Rigno De Oliveira
Region: Piatã – Ba, Chapada Diamantina

2015

Rwanda Maraba III Sovu – CoE Lot # 20

Score: 86.11
Owner: Ferdinand Ufiteyezu
Region: Huye, Huye, South

2014

Guatemala La Maravilla – CoE Lot # 17 

Score: 85,83
Owner: Rosales Vasquez, Mauricio
Region: La Libertad, Huehuetenango

2013

Guatemala La Esperanza – CoE Lot # 7 

Score: 87.66
Owner: Eleodoro De Jesús Villatoro
Region: La Libertad, Huehuetenango

Rwanda Mibirizi – CoE Lot #5 

Score: 89.03
Owner: Multiple farmers on lot
Region: Rusizi, Western

2011

Guatemala San Julián – CoE Lot # 18

Score: 85.25
Owner: Inversiones Mimosa, S. A.
Region: Palencia

GUATEMALA La Batalla #1 – CoE Lot # 8 

Score: 88.84
Owner: Guillermo Magaña Flores
Region: Alotepec-Metap N., Santa Ana

2010

Brazil Sitio Monte Verde – CoE Lot # 21

Score: 84.96
Owner: Helcio Carneiro Pinto Junior
Region: Carmo de Minas, Minas Gerais

Rwanda Abakundakawa Rushashi/ MISOZI – CoE Lot # 13

Score: 86.03
Owner: Musigiyende Casien
Region: Rulindo, Northern

El Salvador San Jose / Shangrila – CoE Lot # 15

Score: 86.15
Owner: Juan Carlos Gregg Meza
Region: Apaneca, Ahuachapán, Apaneca-Ilamatepec

2008

 Rwanda Buremera Mig – CoE Lot # 3

Score: 89.41
Owner: Nzirorera Lanouard
Region: Huye, South

Colombia Mirador – CoE Lot # 26 

Score: 85.75
Owner: Jesus Lizcano
Region: Cubarral, Meta

2006

Guatemala Viviano – CoE Lot # 12

Score: 86.91
Owner: Gutierrez Vasquez, Viviano
Region: Jalapa, Jalapa