This just in from the Cup of Excellence competition that concluded in Brazil on January 23: New records set!
The first-place coffee at the recent Brazil Naturals Cup of Excellence (COE) competition set a new record high with a 95.18 score. Grown on a five-hectare farm located in Cristina, Mantiqueria de Minas, by brothers Antônio and Sebastiao Marcio da Silva, this coffee ”prized for its tropical fruit flavors and champagne acidity ”validated Brazil’s innovations in quality in the competition’s fourth contest for Brazil’s best Natural Processed coffee.
But it wasn’t the only record set in last week’s competition in Araxá, Brazil. This Brazil Naturals COE competition also set a historic average high of 88.26 points for the 23 winners, which included four 90-point or higher œPresidential Awards. The International Jury, representing 11 countries, found flavor profiles such as mango, sweet tobacco, and apple pie; the finishes were sweet and clean. Despite the drought that occurred this year, the Jury’s findings of quality confirmed Brazil’s resilience in producing high scoring coffees.
œThe drought means lower yields and smaller bean sizes in general, but also a shortened drying time on Natural Processed coffees, says the Brazil Naturals Head Judge, Chris Wade. œWith this shorter time we noticed that many of the coffees had exceptional acidity with great clarity. This is probably due to the coffee drying faster and preserving much of the acids within the coffee. What we found on the tables was absolutely stunning. Many of the coffees were so unique that every time they came to the table they blew everyone away with their flavors and clarity. Sample sets of winners are being packed and shipped to Alliance for Coffee Excellence members around the world to roast, cup, and select favorites to bid on when the coffees are auctioned online on March 4.
