International Jury Cupping finalists at Flavor of India Fine Cup Award competition.
Professional cuppers evaluating Flavor of India Fine Cup Award finalists.
SWEDEN - Winners of the annual Flavor of India Fine Cup Award were announced at the Specialty Coffee Association of Europe (SCAE) in June.
Vijai Kumar, first secretary of commerce from the Indian Embassy in Sweden took part in the award presentation at the Coffee Board of India pavilion
The international jury, led by Alf Kramer, tasted 40 samples awarding the following:
BEST ARABICA - Sri. Sivraja Boraiah, Marvahulla Estate, Conoor (Nilgiris). Score: 71.68
BEST SPECIALTY ARABICA - Sri. Abraham Jacob, Seethargund Estates, Nelliyampathi, Kerala (Travancore). Score: 75.89
BEST ROBUSTA - Sri. D.M. Purnesh, Harley Estate, Karnataka (Manjarabad) Score: 74.54
BEST SPECIALTY ROBUSTA - Abraham Jacob, Poabs Estates, Nelliyampathi (Travancore) Score: 76.58
Competitors from India's 13 coffee growing regions face two rounds in the competition.
Samples are first analyzed for physical/visual quality based on the color, smell, size and defects. Entries that qualify in the visual quality analysis are evaluated for cup quality by an experienced panel of coffee tasters representing Coffee Board of India as well as Indian Coffee industry. The best tasting coffees qualify for the final round of cupping. The outstanding coffees from among the selected coffees at the national level are then chosen for final cupping by the International jury consisting of eminent tasters from several different countries.
"The competition is focused at sensitizing the coffee growers about the importance of cupping for overall quality of coffee and also to project to the global consumers the unique Flavour profile of Indian coffees," expained Aarti D. Gupta, IDAS, finance director, Coffee Board of India.
Coffee is traditionally grown in the western and eastern ghats in the states of Karnataka, Kerala and Tamil Nadu but in recent years non-traditional regions have produced strong contenders. These include coffees from Andhra Pradesh and Odisha as well as the northeast states, according to Gupta.
The coffee of India is entirely shade grown. Flavors are described as subtle with stimulating intensity. The coffees of India are mild, not very acidic and full bodied. Winners of the competition were described as having a sweet aroma, almond and dried-fruit flavor with a lemonish, chocolaty aftertaste (Best Arabica). The Best Robusta was described as double creamy, nutty with dried fruit, sweet black tea and semi-sweet chocolate with a balanced after taste.
Flavor of India Find Cup Competition International Judges
Judges from the international jury.
Head Judge: Alf Kramer, Norway
- Andreas Hertzberg, Solberg & Hansen, Norway
- Filip Bartelak, Q Grader, SCAA Certified Cupping Judge
- Vytautas Kratulis, Lithuania
- Johan Ekfeldt, Johan & Nystrom, Sweden
- Johanna Wechselberger, Vienna School of Coffee, Austria
- Jesper Bood, Da Matteo coffee roasters
- Patrick O’Malley, SCAE Trainer and Roast Master, Creator of International Barista Coffee Academy.
- Taloumis Yiaunis, TAF Coffee, Greece
- Dr. K. Basavaraj, Coffee Board, India
The national panel received 211 entries and evaluated 102 samples, selecting six specialty arabica coffees and six specialty robusta coffees that were sent to the international judges along with 16 in the arabica category and 11 in the robusta category. Only coffees scoring 60% and above advanced. The final cupping was in Gothenberg at the Da Matteo Roastery and Cafe, named Sweden's best cafe.
Coffee Categories:
- Arabica (washed /unwashed)
- Robusta (washed /unwashed)
- Specialty Arabica coffees
- MNEB (Mysore Nuggets Extra Bold)
- Organic Arabica
- Estate Branded ( Arabica)
- Pulped Sun-Dried ( Arabica)
- Monsooned Arabica
- Distinct Coffee (Arabica)
- Specialty Robusta Coffees
- RKR
- Organic Robusta
- Estate Branded ( Robusta)
- Pulped Sun-Dried (Robusta)
- Monsooned Robusta
- Distinct Coffee (Robusta)