Why is the COE important?

Why is the Cup of Excellence Important?

• The Cup of Excellence greatly alters our view and expectations of quality coffee.

• Encourages farmers to strive for quality.


• Instead of muddled coffee with no distinguishable characteristics or individual uniqueness, the COE promotes flavor filled coffee for even the trained conoisseur's palate.

• The individual farmer is recognized for his product.


• The COE draws upon a new niche of customers that pay a premium amount for top quality, which helps the businesses of roasters and importers who support COE.

• Consumers look at the COE as a sort of guarantee that the coffee they are purchasing is top notch, because it is judged by professional cuppers.


• The payment to the coffee farmers for their coffee is more than Fair.

• "The Cup of Excellence program builds the bridge between the high quality farmer, the high quality trade and eventually the consumer who finds coffees he truly loves and at the same time knows that the farmer has been well compensated" (cupofexcellence.org).


• The COE has built many international relationships, friendships and partnerships.

• COE is a program that puts its main focus on individual empowerment, training and education with no consideration of gender or economic status (cupofexcellence.org).