The Alliance for Coffee Excellence (ACE) has suspended its Cup of Excellence (COE) pilot program in Indonesia due to funding issues.

Originally, the pilot COE program would continue in Bandung in 2020 after a successful launch in Aceh in March.

The COE was to be run in partnership with the Speciality Coffee Association of Indonesia, but encountered hurdles regarding its funding and managing of the program.

“We are very sorry for the delay, but it is critical that all of these requirements are in place before we can sanction any competition under the COE brand and programming,” the ACE says in a public statement.

“It is our hope that within the next year we would be able to come back to the table with a timeline and plan.”

The COE trial in Aceh received more than 40 entries from farmers for pre-selection, with a juryof coffee professionals from Australia, China, Sumatra, Colombia, the Netherlands, the United States, Singapore, and South Korea.

In 2019, ACE has held six COE events in Burundi, Columbia, Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala and Honduras.

Upcoming COE auctions will take place in Burundi on 19 September, Brazil on 26 November, and Peru on 5 December.

For more information, visit www.allianceforcoffeeexcellence.org