Honduras Cup of Excellence awards six coffees above 90 points

Desarrollos Santa Lucia has won the 2019 Honduras Cup of Excellence (COE) with a 94.84 washed Geisha from the Comayagua region.

“I want to thank my father Dr Mierisch, and my brothers Erwin and Steve Mierisch for all the knowledge that they have been passed to me but most importantly for always believing in me. Last but not least thank you to the entire Fincas Mierisch team whom without this never has been possible. I am honoured to receive our first time first place in Cup of Excellence,” says Eleane Mierisch of the winning family.

Roger Antonio Dominguez Marquez of Las Flores in the La Paz region placed second with a score of 92.25 for his natural Catui. Alma Aydee Pineda Alvarado placed third with a 91.84 score for her washed Pacas from La Sierra farm in Santa Barbara.

The COE International jury gave scores of 90 and above to six lots, with the top lot receiving the second highest score in COE Honduras history of 94.84.

The Alliance for Coffee Excellence (ACE) concluded the 16^thedition of COE Honduras on 31 May. The competition was held with country partners Instituto Hondureño del Cafe (IHCAFE) atthe IHCAFE Center for Research and Training in La Fe Ilama, Santa Bárbara.

The international jury judging panel represented markets from Japan, China, South Korea, Colombia, Bulgaria, Russia, Australia, United States, Netherlands, and Honduras.

“COE Honduras has been great for me. I have never attended to a COE competition before and feel honoured to have had the opportunity. I was amazed by the high quality and flavor complexity of the Honduran coffees, says jury member Sandra Hermsen from Simon Lévelt Coffee and Tea in the Netherlands.

“The international jury found several fruit flavors like peach, cherries, bergamot, and tropical fruits, as well as floral notes and caramel. At times, it was a carnival in our mouths, with flavours that were competing with each other for attention. Many thanks to the coffee producers, IHCAFE, COE, the national jury, and all volunteers that made this competition possible.”

Farmers submitted 290 samples from 12 departments across Honduras, which included 20 different varieties and different blends. After careful evaluation, the jury selected 30 coffees to go to the COE Auction from seven departments with varietals including Bourbon, Catuai, Gesha, Pacas, Parainema, and Typica. Processing methods included washed, natural, honey, and anaerobic – a first for Honduras COE.

“The coffee presented at COE Honduras 2019 were diverse. Coffee of different processes of washed, natural and honey. Different varieties – Geisha, Pacas, Catuai, and others. All this gave a wide variations of flavour profiles from washed Geisha with jasmine and earl grey aroma, light elegant body, peach, apricot, and green tea flavours to natural coffees with honey, dried fruit flavor, full syrupy body, high sweetness, chocolate flavor, tropical fruits and strawberries,” says jury member Eugene Schukin of Kafema in Russia.

These coffees will be available through an internet auction on 11 July.

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