The Alliance of Coffee Excellence (ACE) is celebrating record-breaking prices paid for both its first place winner and the overall average in its Brazil Cup of Excellence auction. The top scoring of the 21 Brazil Pulped Natural coffees sold for $50.20 per pound, beating the previous 2005 record of $49.75 per pound. The average price for the 21 winning coffees was $11.65 per pound, smashing the previous 2012 average price record by $2.85 per pound.
ACE said it is expecting the result to create an increased global demand for the coffees of these winners and generate worldwide exposure for their communities. “Cup of Excellence has been life changing for thousands of farmers, roasters and consumers worldwide since it began in Brazil in 1999,” said Susie Spindler, Cup of Excellence Founder and outgoing ACE Executive Director. “We are thrilled that this 100th celebration event has delivered such great results for Brazil's deserving farmers and know that going forward the program will continue to discover unknown and underappreciated coffee farmers and allow them to prosper.” ACE said the top five coffees in this year’s competition came from the Piatã region, which has not previously garnered significant attention from the world’s premier roasters and importers.
Incoming ACE Executive Director, Debbie Hill said she was thrilled to participate in her first Cup of Excellence auction. “I look forward to building on the solid Cup of Excellence foundation moving forward,” said Hill. ACE said a buying group representing Japan, Australia Taiwan and the US were responsible for setting the new record high price.
