For 20 years, the Cup of Excellence (COE) competition has pioneered integrity and transparency in the coffee industry. The level of scrutiny that COE coffees undergo is unmatched anywhere in the industry. This means that the quality of COE coffees is also unmatched. We give farmers the tools they need to improve the economic model of their farms with recognition and financial reward for their hard work and effort.

Sensory Education Training, or SET, is a gateway to COE knowledge gathered over our 20-year history. The Sensory Education events are a fantastic opportunity for students wanting to improve their sensory skills and technical skills. Students will learn to evaluate coffee with greater accuracy, consistency, and confidence, while also building relationships among fellow members of the global coffee community. The SET classes are instructed by official CoE head judges and SET instructors. These instructors bring years of valuable coffee knowledge to share with students. Roasters, retailers, coffee producers, importers, exporters, and enthusiasts are invited to join us for these four-day intensive trainings.

The Cup of Excellence winning coffees and the National Winner finalists get sent to the Alliance for Coffee Excellence (ACE) for auction. Members of ACE can buy samples of the coffees and bid on them during the online auctions.