The Cup of Excellence (CoE) 2024 has announced the winners from Brazil, with 13 coffees sourced from 10 different regions across the country awarded scores above 90.
Brazil’s CoE is made up of three categories: Experimental (highlighting coffees that undergo induced fermentation), Dry (assessing sun-dried and naturally processed coffees), and Wet Process (evaluating coffees that have been pulped, de-mucilaged, and hulled).
The top evaluations were earned by Ronaldo da Silva from Sítio Santa Luzia, with 92.32 points, and Vitor Marcelo Barbosa from Fazenda Sobrado e Bonito de Cima, with 91.93 points.
“We are extremely proud of this 25th-anniversary edition, which took place where it all began – in Brazil,” says Vinicius Estrela, the Brazilian Specialty Coffee Association (BSCA) Executive Director.
“The quality of these coffees was remarkable, with high scores that truly impressed everyone. These discoveries, which we make each year through the competition, represent the legacy that BSCA brings to the world. Our goal is to continue uncovering and showcasing the diversity and quality of Brazilian specialty coffee.”
A total of 27 international CoE winners were selected by 22 judges from various countries. The winning coffees will be available for purchase in an online auction on the ACE website on 10 December, where buyers from around the globe will compete to acquire these exclusive lots.
“I see refinement and sophistication, that’s what defines this year’s competition,” says Jesús Salazar, CoE Head Judge.
“The key phrase would be ‘coffee with elegance and sweetness’. I was amazed by a few samples that offered me something I had never experienced before. Brazil has this unique characteristic of showcasing diversity at a very high level and in abundance in one place.”
The specialty coffee market is projected to reach US$152.62 billion by 2030, according to a recent report by Brainy Insights, with the competition said to play a crucial role in gaining recognition and boosting the market.
“I am very happy; we worked so hard to win first place in an award like this,” da Silva says.
“I’ve been working with coffee since I was a child, and bringing value to our coffee is what motivates us to keep pushing forward on this path.”
He adds: “I would like to thank BSCA for encouraging us to take part in the competition, even though we are small producers. This will truly change our lives, as buyers will now seek us out much more – not just for the winning coffee, but for other varieties as well.”
