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Cup of Excellence 2021
ArtOn Café is happy to be sharing the news from the Cup of Excellence competitions in 2021 and this time we will write about four countries: Ethiopia, Colombia, Nicaragua, México and Guatemala
Ethiopia 2021
In this year’s Cup of Excellence competition in Ethiopia, among the five lots scoring 90+ points this year an anaerobic-processed coffee grown by Tamiru Tadesse Tesema from the Sidama region, Bensa zone, took the first place with a score of 90.60. It means it also won the COE’s “Presidential Award”.
The second-ever Ethiopia Cup of Excellence green coffee competition resulted in 39 lots scoring 87+ points, with five of those coffees exceeding the 90-point mark. Organizers said that the winning coffee came from a record-breaking number of entries (1,849) for any countrywide Cup of Excellence competition, coming from different growing areas, processing methods and farm types. Due to COVID-19-related restrictions, the final international judging round of the competition took place at various COE-sanctioned centers throughout the globe.
These 30 winning coffees are all heading to auctions, beginning with an auction of “National Winners” (scoring between 86.41-87.32), and the auctions will be taking place June 28 through July 9, while the online auction will be held Wednesday, July 7. (Alliance for Coffee Excellence, 2021a)
This year’s winner, Tamiru Tadesse Tesema said that “the coffee they grow in their area is of high quality”. He addes: “I wanted to promote it and that is why I took part in the competition. I am very happy for having the opportunity and very honored to have won the Presidential Award. It is the greatest acknowledgment for our hard work.”
Ethiopia Cup of Excellence 2021 winner, Tamiru Tadesse Tesema
“A diversity of fine flavors came through from the processes — natural to honey to anaerobic — bright, floral, apricot, and red wine and muscat,” the COE international judge Shinji Sekine of Japan’s Wataru & Co said after the competition. “We are very satisfied with the result of cupping these lots as CoE winners and hope bidders will also be satisfied with the quality.” There is a long list of winners, and if you wish to see them all, here is the page to their official website with all the winning slots.
The geographic distribution of specialty coffee areas in Ethiopia
Ethiopia is suitable for coffee under current climatic conditions, with the highest area (63%, which is 188,652 km2) outside the five specialty coffee zones. Of the 27% that is suitable for coffee in Ethiopia, only about 30% (91,122 km2) is suitable for specialty coffee production. Nekemte coffee has the largest suitable area (32,648 km2, 11.8%) in the western parts of the country, followed by Sidamo coffee with 9.6% of the suitable area for coffee (26,478 km2) in the southern parts of the Ethiopian highlands. The smallest range is for Yirgacheffe coffee which is only suitable in 1.2% of the suitable area for coffee in the combined model. The most significant overlaps were for Sidamo and Yirgacheffe coffee where 65% (2411 km2) of the Yirgacheffe was modelled as suitable for Sidamo coffee while 16% (5,170 km2) of the Sidamo coffee area was modelled as suitable for also producing Yirgacheffe coffee.
Specialty coffee in Ethiopia
Ethiopian coffee offers some of the most unusual coffee tastes you can find. They vary so much that you would probably be amazed at how they all come from the same country. In this article we present some of them to you, so keep on reading!
Colombia 2021
COE Auction: June 3rd
There were 23 winning coffees, and only the first two scored over 90 points.
First place went to Pablo Andrés Guerrero Pérez, of the farm El Obraje, with a score of 90.61.
Colombia Cup of Excellence 2021 winner, Pablo Andrés Guerrero Pérez
This is the second time that Pablo has participated in the Cup of Excellence contest. Last year he came 8th with a natural-processed Gesha lot. El Obraje coffee farm has become a vertical model of farm and coffee shop. Obraje Café Especial aims to offer high quality coffees to the national and international market (Alliance for Coffee Excellence, 2021b).
“This year I was stricter with both the selection of the cherries and control of the fermentation time to get the profile I desired,” Guerrero said, which took him to the winning place in the competition (Daily Coffee News, 2021a). To see the full list of winners, click here.
Nicaragua 2021
COE Auction: June 29th
NW Auction: June 28th – July 9th
There were 23 winning producers of coffee this year, with four of them scoring over 90 points. The winning coffees represent 12 different varieties or cultivars that went through the different processes of production: washed, natural, honey or anaerobic.
In addition to the main CoE winners, there were also 12 National Winners, each scoring between 85 and 87 points (Alliance for Coffee Excellence, 2021c).
First place went to Jesus Mountain Coffee: its coffee from the farm Jesus Mountain Coffee Company in Nueva Segovia won with a staggering 90.96 points. The farm produces coffee at various heights, from 900 to 1,450 metres above sea level. Its coffee is all grown under shade and its streams are protected, while its shade trees and riparian areas offer important habitats and biological corridors to the wide range of animal species that live there. They estimate that their next harvest (2021-2022) will consist of approximately 3,123 gold quintals. If you wish to see more information about other Nicaragua winners, click here.
COE-winning producers Judith Marileth of Jesus Mountain, Samuel Savala of Cambalache and Norma de Guillén of Los Pirineos
México 2021
COE Auction: July 15th
NW Auction: July 12th – 23rd
The first 4 farmers managed to have a score of over 90 points. The 2021 Mexican CoE competition had 30 CoE winners, gave out four Presidential Awards and eight National Winners recognitions.
First place went to Cruz Jose Arguello Enriquez, and the coffee came from his farm Finca Santa Cruz. His coffee had an amazing success with a score of 91.58. After winning, Cruz said: “We are very excited and happy to have achieved these results. In 2019 our main objective as Finca Santa Cruz was to demonstrate the quality that the farm could offer”.
The propositions of this competition are that these coffees have each been cupped a minimum of five different times during the cupping process. The top 30 coffees that scored over 87 at the Cup of Excellence Global Coffee Centres are the winning ones, and the coffee is packaged in 30kg boxes in two separate 15kg vacuum-packed bags. Those lots that receive the title of National Winner are coffees that are awarded 85+ points during the International Phase by the Cup of Excellence National Jury and International Jury, and those coffees are cupped a minimum of five different times. The coffee is packaged in 69kg hermetic bags(Alliance for Coffee Excellence, 2021d).

If you would like to try the winners’ coffee, you still have the chance to buy the samples. Sample registration closes on Thursday, June 24th. Each set contains 200 grams of green coffee from each of the winning lots.
COE Winners
• 4 Presidential Winners
• 30 COE Winners
• 11 first time winners in COE
Auction Dates
COE Auction: July 15th
NW Auction: July 12th – 23rd
National Winners
• 8 National Winners
• 6 first time winners in NW
Opening Prices
$6.50/lb 90+ COE
$6.00/lb 88 – 88.99 COE
$5.00/lb 87 – 87.99 COE
$4.00/lb 85+ NW
Guatemala 2021
Auction Dates
COE Auction: July 27th
NW Auction: July 26th – August 6th
This year there were 28 winners, and four of them scored over 90 points, and all of COE-winning coffees scored at least 87 points. The winning coffee from El Injerto I’s La Libertad farm, a washed Gesha variety, scored 90.51 points (Alliance for Coffee Excellence, 2021e).
“We are so happy and proud of the award we have received,” Gabriela Aguirre, a representative of Finca El Injerto I, which won the competition’s top prize, said in a Cup of Excellence announcement. “This is an award for all coffee producers in Guatemala and of course an award for our entire team and their hard work, from those who plant, pick and process to those who serve the coffee in the coffee shops.”
In addition to the COE winners auction, 11 coffees that scored between 86 and 86.99 will be present at the “National Winners” auction from July 26 to Aug. 6 (Daily Coffee News, 2021c). If you would like to see all the results or buy the samples, here is the link that will take you directly to the page.
International Women’s Coffee Alliance partners with Cup of Excellence
The International Women’s Coffee Alliance (IWCA) has signed a memorandum of understanding with the specialty coffee organisation – the Alliance for Coffee Excellence (ACE) – and the Premier Coffee Competition – the Cup of Excellence (CoE). Its main goal will be to empower women in the coffee industry by creating new opportunities for professional development which will then aid women in their financial situation. Furthermore, they wish to make healthier coffee communities through building sustainable incomes for women.
“I am very excited about this partnership between IWCA and ACE/COE which will provide opportunities for our women producers through both training and market access, leading to higher income generation while also providing unique coffees for the consumers,” said Dr. Sarada Krishnan, Executive Director of IWCA. IWCA is an organization dedicated to women empowerment in the international coffee industry that functions through 27 independently run IWCA chapters spread across the globe.
These are some of the future goals and activities that these organisations will focus on together:
Bibliography
Alliance for Coffee Excellence (2021a). Ethiopia 2021. Retrieved June 15, 2021 https://allianceforcoffeeexcellence.org/ethiopia-2021/
Alliance for Coffee Excellence (2021b). Colombia 2021. Retrieved June 15, 2021 https://allianceforcoffeeexcellence.org/colombia-2021/
Daily Coffee News (2021a). 2021 Colombia Cup of Excellence Winners Feature Two 90+ Lots. Retrieved June 15, 2021 from https://dailycoffeenews.com/2021/04/13/2021-colombia-cup-of-excellence-winners-feature-two-90-lots/
Espresso Coffee Guide (2021). Ethiopian Coffee. Retrieved June 24, 2021 from https://espressocoffeeguide.com/gourmet-coffee/arabian-and-african-coffees/ethiopian-coffee/
Alliance for Coffee Excellence (2021c). Nicaragua 2021. Retrieved June 15, 2021 https://allianceforcoffeeexcellence.org/nicaragua-2021/
Daily Coffee News (2021b). Four Lots Score 90+ Heading Into 2021 Nicaragua Cup of Excellence Auction. Retrieved June 15, 2021 from https://dailycoffeenews.com/2021/05/18/four-lots-score-90-heading-into-2021-nicaragua-cup-of-excellence-auction/
Alliance for Coffee Excellence (2021d). México 2021. Retrieved June 15, 2021 from https://allianceforcoffeeexcellence.org/mexico-2021/
Daily Coffee News (2021c). 28 Farms Win 2021 Guatemala Cup of Excellence Awards, Four Reach 90+. Retrieved June 24, 2021 from https://dailycoffeenews.com/2021/06/24/28-farms-win-2021-guatemala-cup-of-excellence-awards-four-reach-90/
Alliance for Coffee Excellence (2021e). Guatemala 2021. Retrieved June 24, 2021 from https://allianceforcoffeeexcellence.org/guatemala-2021/
Global Coffee Report (2021). International Women’s Coffee Alliance partners with Cup of Excellence. Retrieved June 15, 2021 from https://gcrmag.com/international-womens-coffee-alliance-partners-with-cup-of-excellence/
Nutritional value of food: consumer awareness and marketing strategies
The EU is promoting strategies to respond to the needs of European citizens concerning food labelling and food awareness
Nutri-Score, a label to help consumers pick healthy options
Nutri-Score is a nutritional label which aims at helping consumers assess the food products they are buying. In fact, it makes it easier for consumers to compare the nutritional values of different products.
More precisely, Nutri-Score is a “front-of-pack nutritional label which converts the nutritional value of food and beverages into a simple overall score. It is based on a scale of 5 colours and letters (A is green to represent the highest nutritional quality while E is dark orange to indicate the lowest)” (BEUC, 2019).
This score takes into account both the nutrients which should be limited in a healthy diet – such as saturated fat, sugars, and salt – and those which have a positive connotation, such as fibre and protein. These data are analysed through a specific algorithm and, depending on the resulting score, calculated per 100g or 100ml, the food product is assigned a colour and a letter (BEUC, 2019).
Source: (Gaita, 2021)
The importance of raising awareness about nutritional values
Nutri-Score could help consumers pick healthy options when buying food. This phenomenon may contribute to the reduction of obesity and overweight, especially among children and teenagers, which is a major public health concern (OECDiLibrary, 2020). In fact, being overweight reduces life expectancy, increases healthcare costs, decreases workers’ productivity and lowers GDP (OECD, 2019).
Phisical activity is a fundamental element to fight obesity
In 2018 almost one in five (19%) 15-year-olds was either overweight or obese , on average across EU countries, – up from one in six (16%) in 2010. There is a three-fold variation in overweight and obesity rates among adolescents across EU countries, ranging from 12% in the Netherlands to 36% in Malta.
In all EU countries except Portugal, overweight and obesity is more prevalent in boys than in girls. On average across EU countries, the prevalence in 2018 was 23% in 15-year-old boys compared to 15% in girls. This gender difference is driven by a combination of biological, social and environmental factors. In Poland, Italy and Greece, overweight and obesity among boys are more than twice as prevalent as among girls.
In all countries except Albania, children and adolescents from more affluent families are less likely to be overweight or obese than those from less affluent families. On average across EU countries, overweight and obesity among young people from less affluent families is over 50% higher than among those from more affluent families (OECDiLibrary, 2020).
Source: HBSC data from Inchley et al. (2020). (OECDiLibrary, 2020)
Considering the current situation concerning obesity and overweight, it is fundamental to underline the importance of promoting healthy lifestyles and raising awareness among consumers about nutritional values and labels.
Nutri-Score, a quick and healthy choice
In May 2020, the European Commission announced, as part of its Farm to Fork Strategy, the adoption of a harmonized mandatory front-of-pack nutrition labelling to help consumers make health-conscious food choices. This labelling should become mandatory by the end of 2022. Scientists and other public health actors welcome this announcement coming from such an important and powerful institution (Group of European scientists supporting the implementation of Nutri-Score in Europe, 2021).
The Farm to Fork strategy basically aims at modifying the labels of foods in order to specify the origin of meat and milk used as ingredients of other products, and at introducing a synthetic, clear, harmonized and mandatory nutritional label on the front of food packs (Dongo, 2021).
Nutri-Score food labeling. sweet nut nougat croissant labeled red for unhealthy, E level for high sugar and fat
The advantages of introducing Nutri-Score
Scientific studies show that a clear, coloured front-of-pack label is very effective in encouraging consumers to pick healthier products. Notably, the presence of a red indicator tends to induce consumers to buy a different product (Dongo & Novelli, 2020).
According to experts, an efficient label should have the following characteristics (BEUC, 2019):
The introduction of Nutri-Score might have several positive effects, as it not only helps consumers to make healthier choices, but also incentivizes food makers to improve their recipes in order to achieve a better score (BEUC, 2019).
ArtOn Café’s coffee and its nutritional values
We at ArtOn Café are glad to announce that our Rocket and Brigitte blends have a detailed nutrition facts table on their package.
Rocket blend is a 100% Top Arabica coffee which presents an aromatic embrace combining the cosiness of dark chocolate with caramelized almonds. A persistent woodland strain brings out hints of freshly picked wild strawberries and blackberries. Finally, a sharp marmalade flavour warms the aftertaste (ArtOn Café, n.d.).
Source: (ArtOn Café)
Make sure you take a look at Rocket’s nutrition facts below.
Source: (ArtOn Café)
Brigitte blend is a 100% Arabica coffee with a welcoming sweetness reminiscent of a breakfast with sultana biscuits, dates and dried figs. In the soft aftertaste pleasant hints of malt and demerara sugar can be appreciated (ArtOn Café, n.d.).
Source: (ArtOn Café)
Check Brigitte’s nutrition facts below.
Source: (ArtOn Café)
Bibliography
ArtOn Café. (n.d.). Blends. Retrieved June 11, 2021, from Products website: https://www.artoncafe.com/blends/
BEUC. (2019). Factsheet – Nutri-Score. Retrieved from https://www.beuc.eu/publications/beuc-x-2019-051_nutri-score_factsheet.pdf
Dongo, D. (2021, May). NutriScore e profili nutrizionali, aggiornamenti da Bruxelles. GIFT – Great Italian Food Trade. Retrieved from https://www.greatitalianfoodtrade.it/etichette/nutriscore-e-profili-nutrizionali-aggiornamenti-da-bruxelles
Dongo, D., & Novelli, M. (2020, March). Nutriscore e scelte di salute, studio scientifico. Retrieved from https://www.greatitalianfoodtrade.it/etichette/nutriscore-e-scelte-di-salute-studio-scientifico
Gaita, L. (2021, April 24). La guerra sull’etichetta Ue a colori per gli alimenti: per il governo “l’algoritmo danneggia l’eccellenza italiana”. Gli interessi delle multinazionali, la gara tra i Paesi. Il Fatto Quotidiano. Retrieved from https://www.ilfattoquotidiano.it/2021/04/24/la-guerra-sulletichetta-ue-a-colori-per-gli-alimenti-per-il-governo-lalgoritmo-danneggia-leccellenza-italiana-gli-interessi-delle-multinazionali-la-gara-tra-i-paesi/6161056/
Group of European scientists supporting the implementation of Nutri-Score in Europe. (2021). Call from European scientists to implement Nutri-Score in Europe, a simple and transparent front-of-pack food label with rigorous scientific support, intended to guide dietary choices and thus contribute to chronic disease prevention. Retrieved June 11, 2021, from Nutri-Score website: https://nutriscore.blog/2021/03/16/call-from-european-scientists-to-implement-nutri-score-in-europe-a-simple-and-transparent-front-of-pack-food-label-with-rigorous-scientific-support-intended-to-guide-dietary-choices-and-thus-contrib/
OECD. (2019). The Heavy Burden of Obesity: The Economics of Prevention. Paris: OECD Publishing. doi: https://doi.org/10.1787/67450d67-en.
OECDiLibrary. (2020). Overweight and obesity among children and adolescents. Retrieved June 11, 2021, from Health at a Glance: Europe 2020 website: https://www.oecd-ilibrary.org/sites/7402dbb2-en/index.html?itemId=/content/component/7402dbb2-en
Picture credits: when not specified, the pictures are from Shutterstock
ICO May Report: signs of revival in demand and renewed concern over Brazil crop
Coffee prices surged higher in May 2021 showing signs of progressive recovery with revival in demand and renewed concern over Brazil 2021/22 crop
ArtOn Café is proud to publish a monthly abstract of the ICO reports. On our website we have added the graphs of the London and New York stock exchanges. The former concerns Robusta coffee, while the latter refers to Arabica coffee. We have also added an interesting banner that presents the EUR to USD exchange rate. Please visit our website to access all these details.
Source: ICO
The following is an excerpt from the ICO market report of May 2021:
In May 2021, the ICO composite indicator rose by 10.4% to 134.78 US cents/lb, the highest monthly average since the level of 137.68 US Cents/lb registered in February 2017. A firm upward trend of coffee prices over the first eight months of coffee year 2020/21 seems to confirm a net recovery from the low price levels that began in coffee year 2017/18. The price performance has been driven by an expected reduction in production in key exporting countries like Brazil for the 2021/22 season.
Moreover, the brighter prospects for demand as the covid-19 pandemic-related lockdown measures are being removed in major consuming markets with the covid-19 vaccine programmes is generating greater confidence of consumers in an economic recovery and return to normal. Prices of all four groups of coffee have recorded a substantial increase, particularly the groups of Arabica coffee. In terms of market fundamentals, shipments by exporting countries to all destinations totalled 11.40 million 60-kg bags in April 2021, compared with 11.29 million bags in April 2020.
As a result, total exports over the first 7 months of coffee year 2020/21 amounted to 77.52 million bags compared to 74.49 million bags over the same period in coffee year 2019/20. Cumulative exports from May 2020 to April 2021 are estimated at 130.40 million bags, a small decrease of 0.48% compared with the 130.97 million bags recorded from May 2019 to April 2020. World consumption for coffee year 2020/21 is projected at 167.58 million bags, an increase of 1.9% on its level of 164.43 million bags in coffee year 2019/20. Total production for coffee year 2020/21 is estimated at 169.60 million bags, representing a 0.4% increase on 168.94 million bags in coffee year 2019/20. Although world consumption is increasing, it remains 1.2% below world production. However, with prospects of lower production in Brazil for coffee year 2021/22 and the reductions in other countries, world consumption is likely to exceed world production in coffee year 2021/22.
Source: ICO Coffee Market Report – May 2021
Drought in Brazil: the consequences for the world of coffee
Brazil is experiencing a shortage of water and this situation might severely affect its coffee production. Brazil is in fact the world’s biggest exporter of coffee and the drought the country is currently experiencing has farmers worried that there will not be enough water to get through the dry season (Batista, 2021).
Braganca Paulista, SP / Brazil – February 4, 2012: Empty water system Cantareira reservoir during a severe drought in the state of Sao Paulo.
The rainy season has just ended, yet there is little water, which is why farmers are worried they will run out of reserves within the next few months (Batista, 2021). The rainy season in Brazil usually lasts from December to April, when a significant percentage of the annual rainfall is recorded (Weather Atlas, n.d.).
Coffee Plantation in the mountains of Minas Gerais, Matas de Minas, Brazil II
The following is a description of the annual rainfall in Brazil (Weather Atlas, n.d.):
Brazil receives an annual rainfall of between 990.6mm (39″) to 1498.6mm (59″), with a significant percentage of it from December to April. The northeast is mostly arid, while the west and center receive 1524mm (60″) to 2032mm (80″) of rain, with a dry season in the middle of the year. The east and south do not have a dry season. The mouth of the Amazon receives more than 2006.6mm (79″) of precipitation annually, while western Amazon records more than 2997.2mm (118″).
With its tropical savanna climate, Central Brazil has a seasonal rainfall of between 1397mm (55″) to 1778mm (70″). Coastal cities enjoy a warm climate with constant trade winds. Humidity is high near the coast and in the interior of the Amazon Basin. Subtropical temperatures keep the conditions mild south of the Tropic of Capricorn. Brazil receives ample sunshine, between 2400 to 3000 hours annually, thanks to its proximity to the equator.
Brazil January-April 2021 rainfall compared with 2006-2020 average
Source: (Batista, 2021)
In the worst-case scenario, Brazil’s coffee output might continue its decline for a second year in a row. The production of Arabica coffee, the high-end type used by chains such as Starbucks, is significantly decreasing (Batista, 2021).
According to the latest estimate, the next coffee crop from Brazil might be reduced by nearly 20%, and the US Department of Agriculture’s Global Agricultural Information Network (GAIN) puts the size of the forthcoming crop at 56.3 million 60-kg bags (mil. bags), a reduction of 19% compared to last year’s record output of 69.9 mil. bags (Foxwell, 2021).
Bibliography
Batista, F. (2021, May 18). As Brazil runs out of water, the world could lose out on coffee. Al Jazeera. Retrieved from https://www.aljazeera.com/economy/2021/5/18/bbas-brazil-runs-out-of-water-world-could- lose-out-on-coffee
Foxwell, D. (2021). Next Brazilian Crop Could Be Nearly 20% Lower. STiR. Retrieved from https://stir-tea- coffee.com/tea-coffee-news/next-brazilian-crop-could-be-nearly-20- lower/?utm_source=BenchmarkEmail&utm_campaign=June_2021_News_Update_from_STiR_coffee_ and_tea_magazine_-_01_June&utm_medium=email
ICO. (2021). Coffee Market Report May 2021. Retrieved from https://www.ico.org/documents/cy2020-21/cmr-0521-e.pdf
Weather Atlas. (n.d.). Monthly weather forecast and climate Brazil. Retrieved June 8, 2021, from Weather Atlas website: https://www.weather-atlas.com/en/brazil-climate
Picture credits: