How to be a Cup of Excellence Judge

January 3, 2014 Sarah Education Comments Off on How to be a Cup of Excellence Judge

The Alliance for Coffee Excellence (ACE) is offering a spectacular opportunity for anyone who has ever wanted to cup like a pro: The ACE Training in Honduras will take place February 3 “7, and you’re invited.

There's nothing like cupping in a producing country alongside national cuppers to really learn how the regions in that country taste.
There’s nothing like cupping in a producing country alongside national cuppers to really learn how the regions in that country taste.

This is an incredible opportunity to thoroughly learn sensory analysis according to the Cup of Excellence protocol focusing on origin calibration, varietal, processing, defects, and farm tours.

Special activities during this intensive training session in Honduras will be visits to coffee farms and mills.
Special activities during this intensive training session in Honduras will be visits to coffee farms and mills.
See coffee in all its incarnations, from babies at the nursery (above) to tended, producing trees.
See coffee in all its incarnations, from babies at the nursery (above) to tended, producing trees.

Whether you want to train to be a Cup of Excellence judge, or you just want an expert cup per’s skill set, this training week in Honduras will offer exceptional training as well as an insiders look into the production of coffee in Honduras.

SCHEDULE

Monday, February 3:  Full day of calibration at the  Instituto Hondureño del Café, IHCAFE, in San Pedro Sula. Learn about the growing regions of Honduras and Cup of Excellence protocol. Cup and discuss regional coffees.
Tuesday, February 4:  Cupping sessions followed by in-depth discussion as cuppers calibrate themselves to the  appropriate  scoring, consistency, and interpretation of results.
Wednesday, February 5:  Farm tour of COE-winning farm and Erwin  Mierisch farm. Lunch at farm.
Thursday, February 6:  IHCAFE cupping sessions of varietals and processing methods.
Friday, February 7: IHCAFE cupping sessions of varietals, defects, and testing.
Saturday, February 8: Depart for airport or optional Copan farm tour and Copan Mayan ruins tour.
The cost for the week’s activities and educational sessions is $1,995 USD for ACE members; $2,200 USD for non-members. Cost includes: course materials, Alliance apron, cupping spoon, certificate of completion, daily transportation to/from IHCAFE and coffee farm, 5 lunches, and 1 dinner.Students must arrange their own air transportation to San Pedro Sula (SAP) airport and hotel accommodations.
Go HERE to register.
About Sarah 932 Articles
Sarah Allen (she/her) is co-founder and editor of Barista Magazine, the international trade magazine for coffee professionals. A passionate advocate for baristas, quality, and the coffee community, Sarah has traveled widely to research stories, interact with readers, and present on a variety of topics affecting specialty coffee. She also loves animals, swimming, ice cream, and living in Portland, Oregon.
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