FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Guatemala City, Guatemala. (May 19, 2006) - A total of 46 samples of Guatemalan Coffees, 70% of the 65 coffee submitted, were selected to participate in the International Competition of Cup of Excellence® 2006, according to Rodolfo González, General Manager of Anacafé, during a press conference. After four days of intense cupping, 12 national cuppers from the main exporting companies of the country, collaborated with Paul Songer, head judge and Technical Director of Cup of Excellence®, to select only those with average scores of 84 and above.

González said "the auction program seeks to maintain Guatemalan Coffees prestige as one of the finest origins in the world", referring to the objective of the program. Selected coffee lots come from farms in Guatemala (10); Huehuetenango (9); Chimaltenango (8); Sacatepéquez (5); Jalapa (4); Santa Rosa (2); Suchitepéquez (2); Alta Verapaz (1); Baja Verapaz (1); Chiquimula (1); El Quiché (1); San Marcos (1) and Sololá (1).

Paul Songer explained the methodology used in the competition, "basically from the 65 submitted, the national jury did a hard work finding cleanness and sweetness, combined with those characteristics of exemplary coffees. They are very professional and they selected coffees that deserve to be in the international round".

He also referred to the quality found in the samples. "As expected, Guatemalan Coffees are excellent and have lively acidity and a variety of flavors. They are clean and sweet, which is evident of excellent preparation from the producers", he concluded.

A total of 93 coffee lots were registered to participate in a preselection, where Paul Songer and a panel of nine national jurors selected 70 coffee lots (five of them were sold before entering the warehouse) to be evaluated in the national competition. The next step will be the international competition scheduled for May 29. Twenty four international cuppers, from United States, Canada, Europe and Japan will visit the country to select the outstanding coffees that will be auctioned July 11.

For additional information about Cup of Excellence® Guatemala 2006 please contact Gabriela Cordón, at gabrielacv@anacafe.org. If further information about Cup of Excellence® program is required contact Susie Spindler, at susie@montana.com.

National Cuppers

Name and Company
Eduardo Ambrocio, Anacafé
Jose Humberto Peña Luna, Su Beneficio
Paul Songer, Head Judge
Jorge De León, Unex
Amilcar Méndez, Sertinsa
Carlos Muñoz, Anacafé
Juan Antonio Silvestre, Anacafé
Juan Carlos Quevedo, Coex
Israel López, Exportadora
Los Olivos José Angel Alvarado,
Miguel García, Sierra
Azul Seiner Mérida, Fedecocagua