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Discover and reward exceptional quality coffee farmers

Cup of Excellence®  ·  Class of 2026

Six producers. Decades of dedication.
Honoring those who defined what excellence means.

Marysabel Caballero Honduras  ·  Finca El Puente
José R. Monterroso Guatemala  ·  Finca El Morito
Jorge R. Rivera Jr. El Salvador  ·  Finca Santa Rosa
Luis Ricardo Calderón Costa Rica  ·  La Granadilla
Café Orfeu Brazil  ·  Sul de Minas Gerais
Abner Samuel Zavala Nicaragua  ·  El Cambalache & La Esperanza
Meet the 2026 Legends →
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Upcoming Events

World of Coffee · Bangkok · May 7–9, 2026

Thu · May 7
COE × ACE × Aroma
12–1 pmCarles Bio Kaffee rösterei
Brewing COE
1–2 pmTwo Hands Full Coffee Roasters
Guatemala & Costa Rica COE
2–3 pmOrsir Coffee
Guatemala COE
Fri · May 8
COE × ACE × Aroma
1–2 pmMeafahluang Foundation
Thailand COE 2025
2–3 pmMOMOS COFFEE
Guatemala COE 2025
3–4 pmCarles Bio Kaffee rösterei
Honduras & Guatemala COE 2025
4–5 pmBrew Your Mind
Nicaragua COE 2025
Sat · May 9
COE × ACE × Aroma
11–12 pmVela Ethan S.A.C
Peru COE rank 3 & rank 5, 2025
12–1 pmBunah
Thailand COE
Become a Member

Join the Alliance for Coffee Excellence

Community
$375

Build Your Network

Great for businesses exploring ACE/COE programs with flexibility to choose favorite sample sets.

Learn More →
Allied
$1,900

Deepen Your Expertise

Includes samples from 3 countries of your choice. Perfect for businesses with specific origin interests.

Learn More →
Benefactor
$5,180

Champion Excellence

Ultimate access with all 10 COE and National Winner sample sets. Support farmers worldwide.

Learn More →
EnthusiastFor Individuals
$75

Perfect for passionate coffee lovers, home brewers, and baristas who want to support specialty coffee.

Join Now →
Order Samples

2026 Samples & Auction Registration

Experience award-winning coffees before they go to auction!

Purchase sample sets from Cup of Excellence and National Winners competitions.

✓ COE Sample Sets (top scoring coffees)
✓ National Winners Sample Sets
✓ Auction Registration included
✓ Member-only pricing available

Browse Sample Sets →
Jury Application

Become a Cup of Excellence Juror

Shape the future of specialty coffee

Join our international jury to evaluate and score the world's finest coffees.

✓ Taste exceptional coffees from top producers
✓ Network with global coffee experts
✓ Contribute to farmer recognition
✓ Gain deep origin knowledge through farm tours

Note: Space is limited. Applying does not guarantee placement.

Apply Now →
Legends

Legends of Excellence 2026

Producers Who Changed Coffee And Their Communities Forever

Legends of Excellence is an elite designation awarded to coffee producers who have consistently demonstrated exceptional quality, earning multiple Cup of Excellence wins over the years. Selected from six countries, these producers represent the pinnacle of craftsmanship, innovation, and dedication.

The class of 2026 grows the family. Six legends return from last year — their stories deeper, their impact wider — joined by six new inductees who have earned their place through years of relentless pursuit of quality.

Each of these producers has made a lasting impact, and this year the program extends that impact even further through a charitable initiative. By donating their coffees to be auctioned, half of the proceeds will support meaningful local social projects, while the remaining half will fund educational projects around the world.

Meet the 2026 Legends →

Latest News

What we do for

Coffee Producers

Coffee Buyers

Coffee Lovers

Rigorous Juried Cup of Excellence Competitions

Intensive Sensory Educational Training

Certified Coffee Lab

International Marketplace

See what our members are saying:

  • “We have been fortunate to be able to purchase COE winner lots and bring them to our corner of Europe...Sharing these exclusive coffees with other coffee enthusiasts is one of the best parts of our day.”

    Jordan Dabov DABOV SPECIALTY COFFEE - Sofia, Bulgaria
  • "COE has always played a huge role in our company. Our goal is to buy a lot from every auction and attend as many juries as possible. We would like our baristas and customers to enjoy the great quality of COE coffee, both served in our stores as black coffee and by the bag to bring back home."

    Synøve Nesøen KAFFEBRENNERIET - Oslo, Norway
  • “I respect ACE since the top of the specialty coffees are rewarded and available for me to buy. I could not find them if the competition did not exist.”

    Nikos Psomas MOKKA COFFEE - Athens, Greece