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.

Our SET courses allow us to share COE knowledge with those who want to improve their businesses by driving coffee excellence. In this class, you’ll learn about COE cupping, the protocol of identifying qualities, identifying common flavor attributes, scoring, and a common language. Sessions include lab, lecture, and active discussions about provided coffees for you to taste and learn; processed naturals and honeys/pulped naturals & varieties, etc. This is the best way to learn and calibrate your sensory skills!

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.