The 2024 Cup of Excellence competition in Costa Rica saw a remarkable achievement, with 11 coffees scoring over 90 points, setting a new record.
“Life happens, coffee helps. But a Cup of Excellence coffee from Costa Rica? It’s like having a superhero in your cup,” said Noelia Villalobos, Executive Director of the Specialty Coffee Association of Costa Rica, highlighting the exceptional quality of this year’s entries.
The competition featured three categories: traditional washed coffees, semi-washed/honey/naturally processed coffees, and experimental coffees.
“The coffees were outstanding, and the categorization really helped us understand more of their flavor profiles. It made the cuppings more complex and supported farmers in choosing which of their best coffees to enter,” said Dylan Aguilera of Aguilera Brothers, a member of the Costa Rican national jury which scored the first three rounds.
Jurors praised the washed coffees for their “bright acidity, floral aroma, and fruity notes.” The honey and natural coffees were described as having a “silky body, ample mixtures of tropical and dried fruits, and caramelized sugar undertones.” The experimental category allowed producers to innovate, resulting in coffees with “well-balanced acidity, a long aftertaste, vanilla notes, brown sugar, and caramel.”
The honey and naturally processed coffees emerged as the most competitive, with all 16 Cup of Excellence winners scoring above 88 points.
Erwin Mierisch, Cup of Excellence Executive Director, commended the categorization system for its inclusivity. “Categorization also allowed a lower altitude producer from Turrialba to showcase his coffee and receive a national winning score of 87 in this highly competitive honey-natural category, thus opening the door for huge opportunities for farmers in lesser-known regions,” he said.
Bidding for the 30 Cup of Excellence winners will commence on July 25. The 10 national winners, with scores ranging from 86.62 to 88.15, will be available for purchase between July 22-26, with all honey-natural coffees being sold during this period.
Roasters interested in sample boxes are advised to place their orders by June 26, as supplies are limited.