Winning lots from the Cup of Excellence competition were auctioned in December at a record bid of $41.30 per pound. Fazenda Santa Barbara offered 17 30kg boxes, earning $46,421.12. The farm, owned by Jose Joaquim Oliveira, was first planted in 2007.
Bidders included Maruyama Coffee, Toa Coffee, Sarutahiko Coffee, Saza Coffee, and Difference Coffee Co. which purchased eight lots.
Winning lots are cupped a minimum of five different times during the competition by two different juries. The threshold cupping scores for the 24 pulped naturals and 19 natural coffees that qualified was 86+.
The auction raised $283,711.88 on 479 lots that averaged $8.96 per pound. Proceeds finance the non-profit competition and auction with the majority of funds presented to skilled growers whose reputations are greatly enhanced.
Learn more: www.allianceforcoffeeexcellence.org