Mexico saw its first Cup of Excellence auction on 25 July, with the winning coffee farmer from Veracruz selling his coffee for US$50.21 per pound. Buoyed to this level by two groups of determined bidders, Cup of Excellence organisers, the Alliance for Coffee Excellence (ACE), reported that an emotional Artemia Zapata Tejada explained during an interview after the auction that he wants to be an inspiration to others of what honest hard work based on quality can produce, especially for those who face a dangerous situation in Mexico. Traveling with his family and finishing the building of his house were also mentioned as top priorities for the auction premiums as Artemia had dried this particular coffee on African beds on his roof. Artemia’s story and his winning coffee will be shared with coffee connoisseurs at Maruyama Coffee in Japan, Intelligentsia Coffee in the United States and Orsir Coffee in Taiwan, Cup of Excellence reported. “For years ACE has been wanting to conduct the Cup of Excellence in Mexico since our members know that there are so many unique coffees of extraordinary quality that have not been recognised or set apart,” said Susie Spindler, ACE Executive Director in a statement. “The 2012 Cup of Excellence is the first step on what will be a challenging but rewarding journey for Mexico’s farmers and its unique coffee industry. It is very fitting that the program’s 75th competition would be the all-important first for Mexico.” Oaxaca coffee farmer and Zapoteca community member, Andres Martinez Leon, will ship the third place coffee to a variety of coffees companies. These include American companies Café Imports, Noble Coffee Roasting, ONYX Coffee, Johnny's Java; Australian companies Ristretto, Proud Mary, Axil Coffee, Reverence Coffee and Studio Espresso; and United Kingdom's Square Mile Coffee Roasters. Eleven Cup of Excellence programs will be held in 2102. The international competition selects the top coffees of each country's harvest and is open to all farmers equally. Managed by the non-profit ACE with membership support from global coffee companies and sponsorships from several companies including Probat, Mahlkonig, Pacific Bag and Decagon Instruments, ACE notes that the program has discovered thousands of unknown exemplary coffee farmers and ensured that they were rewarded for their hard work. For more information visit www.cupofexcellence.org
