BOGOTÁ, Colombia – The call to receive coffee lots for the second National Coffee Quality Competition “Colombia, Land of Diversity,” which rewards excellence, quality and diversity of the country’s coffee, will go from November 15, 2016, to January 20, 2017.
And all producers interested in participating are invited to submit their lots to the points of purchase of cooperatives.
With the competition, as part of its strategies for promoting quality, differentiation and added value in the whole coffee chain, the Colombian Coffee Growers Federation (FNC) seeks to encourage production of exceptional coffees, project them nationally and internationally, concentrate regional and departmental initiatives into a single national competition, and substantially improve income of producers committed to quality.
Coffee lots will be evaluated (in a first phase by national cup tasters and in the final phase by international cup tasters) according to a unique and innovative protocol developed by Almacafé’s quality office, based on international standards, to recognize the unique attributes of Colombian coffee.
Who can take part
The call for participation is open to Colombian coffee growers or natural or legal persons, including foreigners, with coffee farms in Colombia in two main categories: Small and Big Lots.
In the category of Small Lots (volume between 500 and 2,000 kg), a coffee per farm or producer can participate and the best sensory attributes or features will be recognized individually, with an award of 25 million pesos for each winning attribute:
– Acidity,
– Body,
– Mildness
– Balance
– Exoticness.
The basic quality requirements to participate in this category are max 1% of first group defects, 1% of CBB, maximum yield factor of 93.33, and 12% of moisture content.
In the category of Big Lots (volumes between 25,000 and 27,500 kg), a coffee per producer or association of producers can participate and there will be a unique recognition (also of 25 million pesos) to the best estate coffee.
The basic quality requirements in this category are max 1.5% of first group defects, 2% of CBB, maximum yield factor of 93.33, and 12% of moisture content.
Best coffees will take part in international auction
In addition to the recognition in cash to each winner, the best coffees in each category will participate in a live auction to international bidders.
The base auction prices will be $5/lb for small lots and $2/lb for big lots.
The winners of each category also will have right to participate in the following edition of the competition, directly accessing the round of international jury, provided coffee meets the quality requirements.
For further information, coffee farmers can contact their Coffee Growers Committee or cooperative, or write to: concurso.calidad@cafedecolombia.com.
