Coffee lots participating in the Cup of Excellence® (COE) program go through a demanding selection process.

Registration
First, growers have to register samples of coffee lots representing from 15 to 100 bags of 69 kilos. In order to better accommodate small producers, up to three farmers can join forces to provide one representative lot.

Pre-selection
The Alliance for Coffee Excellence (ACE) designates a head judge who selects the panel of national cuppers. The team evaluates the coffee samples and high-scored coffees go to the National Competition. Coffee lots selected in this step are placed in a qualified warehouse where the Guatemalan National Coffee Association (ANACAFE) custodies the product until the they are auctioned or disqualified in any of the next phases.

National Competition
The same judge panel assesses coffee lots selected during Pre-selection. The best coffees are selected to go to the next step.

International Competition
A maximum of 24 international judges visit Guatemala to evaluate and select only those very rare and fine coffees that will be auctioned.

Addional notes
An internationally recognized auditing fim verifies all procedures of the program, while BSI Inspectorate verifies sampling and warehouse procedures.

All cuppers utilize the Guatemalan Coffes Easy Cupping digital system with ACE’s cupping form. Winning farmers receive 80% minimum of the total net sales done during the internet auction.