Houston, Texas (Sep 10, 2024), With 4 coffees scoring over 90 points at its first Cup of Excellence competition, it is evident that the Taiwanese coffee sector is rapidly advancing into specialty coffee.  In the last decade, this fairly new coffee-producing country has strongly focused on innovation and experimentation. Taiwan has become the third Asian country and the 17th globally to host the prestigious Cup of Excellence (COE), the world’s premier coffee competition and auction. Despite its small production volume, Taiwan’s coffee sector has rapidly emerged as a force in the specialty coffee market.

From the high-altitude slopes of Alishan to the unique microclimates of Nantou, Taiwan’s diverse geography creates ideal conditions for cultivating specialty coffee. This year, COE Taiwan introduced a groundbreaking mixed lot competition, allowing producers from three neighbouring estates with the same processing methods to jointly register, providing opportunities for those impacted by natural disasters to compete. The competition saw a diverse group of winners, including several women producers and farms that practice organic farming.

According to Erwin Mierisch, Executive Director of COE and the Alliance for Coffee Excellence (ACE), “The Cup of Excellence is more than just a competition; it’s a bridge that connects passionate and skilled coffee farmers with roasters worldwide. Taiwan’s commitment to innovation and quality has made it a promising new player in the global coffee community. I’m excited to see more Taiwanese coffees with unique flavours and outstanding economic value come to the forefront.”

The COE Taiwan competition featured a rigorous selection process, involving 33 international and national jurors from 10 countries who conducted three rounds of evaluations over eight days, using more than 3,000 cups of coffee. The winning coffees were cupped at least 108 times, with the top 20 coffees scoring above 87 points receiving the “Cup of Excellence Winner” title. These coffees will be auctioned internationally on October 3. Additionally, coffees scoring above 85 points will be eligible for the “National Winner Auction.”

“Enhancing the value of local coffee amidst high production costs in Taiwan is a risky endeavor, but I firmly believe Taiwan is on track to becoming a future star in the global specialty coffee market,” said Krude Lin, CIAT Chairman. “Our hard work will ensure that Taiwanese coffee becomes a high-quality alternative in the international coffee market.”

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