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Experience award-winning coffee. Support the farmers. Become part of excellence.

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A Legacy of Coffee Excellence

1999 saw the inception of the first internet auction for award winning specialty coffees. This pivotal moment turned into the Cup of Excellence® program which has fundamentally changed specialty coffee. It brought unequaled transparency to the industry as well as created a way for buyers and farmers to build relationships and work together. The Cup of Excellence competition has been held in 19 countries and has helped to connect over 5,000 farmers with international buyers.

Over the years, the Alliance for Coffee Excellence has remained dedicated to promoting and celebrating high-quality producers and their coffee. The Alliance for Coffee Excellence (ACE) is a family of global coffee lovers that supports sustainable specialty coffee. We auction unique, award-winning coffees in order to recognize and reward the farmers that produce them, set worldwide quality standards, and build bridges between high quality coffee buyers and high quality coffee roasters. Become an Alliance for Coffee Excellence member today!

All ACE members receive a digital welcome packet, a personalized membership certificate and more, as well as member-only pricing and benefits.

Enthusiast

Where Passion Begins

For those who believe coffee is more than a drink

This is a membership for Individuals who are passionate coffee lovers, home brewers or baristas who want to support and learn more about specialty coffee.

USD75

Valid for 1 year

Start Your Journey

Join a global community of coffee lovers and discover excellence in your cup.

Community

Build Your Network

Where businesses discover excellence together

A great option for businesses looking to explore ACE/COE programs with the flexibility to choose your favorite COE and/or NW sample sets at member-only pricing.

USD375

Valid for 1 year

Explore Programs

Perfect for cafés and roasters exploring ACE and COE programs with flexibility to discover your perfect coffee journey.

Allied

Deepen Your Expertise

Curated access to the world's finest origins

Perfect for businesses with specific interests in three (3) countries' coffee and auction registration.

USD1,900

Valid for 1 year

Choose Your Origins

Includes sample sets from 3 countries of your choice. Connect directly with the coffees that matter to your business.

Benefactor

Champion Excellence

For those who elevate the entire industry

Designed for dedicated supporters. Includes all eleven (11) 2026 COE and National Winner sample sets and auction registrations.

USD5,575

Valid through December 31, 2026

Join the Elite

The ultimate access: COE and National Winner samples throughout the year. Your support directly impacts farmers worldwide.

Join Our Cause

The Alliance for Coffee Excellence (ACE) is a family of global coffee lovers. We auction unique coffees while recognizing and rewarding the farmers. For over 20 years, we’ve been creating and setting worldwide quality selection standards and building bridges between roasters and the farmers.

We support sustainable specialty coffee.

All ACE members receive a welcome packet with the 2021 ACE Magazine, a personalized membership certificate, access to our farm directory with 20 years of historical auction data, and more.

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
“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
"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

See Our Video Testimonials

**All COE jurors must meet Cup of Excellence professional standards to qualify for placement. Space on juries is limited – applying for a COE Jury does not guarantee placement.