The Cup of Excellence (COE) is where coffee growers have their beans rated and ranked based on their quality. Through Internet auctions, high-ranking shipments are then auctioned off to the highest bidder from around the world.
Cup of Excellence (COE)
George Howell, an American specialty coffee pioneer, and Susie Spindler co-created this immensely significant show. The show does a great job of emphasizing the exceptional quality that the coffee-growing process produces. It also allows producers to reach out to overseas customers willing to pay a premium for high-quality goods.
COE initiatives, which focus attention on the quality of coffee a country can produce, have radically changed the landscape of the coffee business in countries like Rwanda, Colombia, Costa Rica, and others. However, all coffee-producing countries do not hold the Cup of Excellence, and alternate auction methods, such as Best of Panama, have evolved.