2025

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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 17 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.

Join the ACE family to experience true excellence in coffee while supporting the producers.

Membership Levels

A great entry-level 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
Community Member
  • Member-only pricing on COE and NW Sample Sets
  • Digital welcome packet and personalized membership certificate
  • Access to Members-only digital content and information materials
  • 20% discount on education, technical training and immersion courses
  • Preference for jury placement given to ACE members.**
  • Priority access and invitations to special events

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

USD1,900
Allied Member
  • Includes the Sample Sets of 3 chosen countries
  • Digital welcome packet, personalized membership certificate and personalized 5×7 inch Allied plaque
  • Member-only pricing on additional country sample sets+auction registration
  • Access to member-only digital content and informational materials
  • 20% discount on education, technical training and immersion courses
  • Preference for jury placement given to ACE members.**
  • Priority access and invitation to special events

Designed for dedicated supporters. Includes all ten (10) 2025 COE and National Winner sample sets + auction registrations.

USD5,425
Benefactor Member
  • Includes all Cup of Excellence and National Winner Sample Sets + Auction Registrations for 2025
  • Digital welcome packet, personalized membership certificate and a personalized 8×10 Benefactor plaque
  • Access to member-only digital content and informational materials
  • 25% discount on technical training and immersion courses
  • Preference for jury placement given to ACE members.**
  • One complimentary COE International jury registration with priority placement (if placed**)
  • Priority access and invitation to special events

A great entry-level option for individuals looking to explore ACE/COE programs with flexible sample sets..

Become Community Member
–   Member-only pricing on COE and NW Sample Sets
–    Digital welcome packet and personalized membership certificate
–    Access to member-only digital content and informational materials
–   20% discount on education, technical training and immersion courses
–   Priority placement on COE International Juries (space permitting)
–   Priority access and invitation to special events
–   Choose sample sets and auction registrations as you go

Growth

For business

$99/mo
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  • Online support
  • Regular updates
  • Personal training

Perfect for those with specific interests in three (3) three COE countries coffee.

Become Allied Member
–   Includes the Sample Sets of 3 chosen countries
–   Digital welcome packet, personalized membership certificate and personalized 5×7 inch Allied plaque
–   Member-only pricing on additional country Sample Sets
–   Access to member only digital content and informational materials
–   20% discount on education, technical training and immersion courses
–   Priority placement on COE International Juries (space permitting)
–   Priority access and invitation to special events
– Select sample sets and auction registrations for three countries.
– Add more countries a la carte.
– Includes a custom wooden plaque.

Designed for dedicated supporters who want maximum benefits, including COE and NW sample sets for all of the 2025 countries, premium discounts, and a philanthropic touch.

Become Benefactor Member
–   Includes all 10 2025 COE and NW Sample Sets + Auction Registrations 
–   Digital welcome packet, personalized membership certificate and a personalized 8×10 inch Benefactor plaque
–   Access to member-only digital content and informational materials
–   25% discount on education, technical training and immersion courses
–   One complimentary COE International  jury registration with priority placement (space permitting)
–   Priority access and invitation to special events
– One complimentary jury registration (space permitting).
– Welcome packet with membership certificate.
– Includes a custom Benefactor plaque.
– Supports ACE and COE with a small donation.

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.