UTZ Certified showcased 11 specialty coffees at this year’s Specialty Coffee Association of America (SCAA) event in Seattle.
At three ‘Tasting and Pairing’ events, top quality Arabica and Robusta coffees produced by farmers with an UTZ certification were expertly matched to different types of food to provide an exciting new way of tasting coffee.
Mint, cheese, chocolate, fruit, bread and nuts were all tasted alongside the coffees, allowing participants to pay attention to the nuances of the flavors and textures.
Three of the producers of the coffees – from India, Guatemala and Colombia – attended the sessions and answered questions, providing a great opportunity for recognition from the roasters, traders, retailers, journalists and consumers who also attended.
The events were introduced by UTZ Certified board member Carlos Brando and led by Isabela Raposeiras, a coffee expert who leads her own Coffee Lab and academy in Sao Paulo, Brazil.
Juliette Caulkins, Emerging Markets Director at UTZ Certified, said “The coffees showcased at the UTZ Match Cup 2014 were of the highest quality. This proves that producers’ efforts to use sustainable practices are bringing top quality coffees to the market.”
Out of 40 finalists, coffees from 10 farms were selected for the pairing:
Arabica
- Fazenda Recreio, Brazil
- Expocafé, Subgrupo Caldas, Colombia
- Ethio Agri Ceft Gemadro Coffee Plantation, Ethiopia
- Fedecocagua, Aldea Hoja Blanca, Cuilco, HHT, Guatemala
- Joseph Coffee Curing Works and Loyola Estate-Kattimore, India
- Ibonia Coffee Estate, Kenya
- PT Volkopi Indonesia Indonesia
Robusta
- Fazenda Modena, Brazil
- Elkhill Estates, BBTC Bombay Burmah Trading, India
- Kyagalanyi, Nakanyonyi Project, Uganda
Source: Utz Certified
