Mike with Winning Farmer

The coffee produced by farmer Jose de Dios Blanco received an average score of 93.52 points (out of 100) by a panel of 21 judges from 6 different countries. This coffee even received extremely rare 100 point scores from some of the judges.  Mike Perry, Roast master and Green Coffee Buyer for Coffee Klatch was one of the judges to evaluate the coffee in Santa Cruz, Bolivia.  While cupping coffees for this auction, Mike scored this coffee 96 points. He described the coffee as “the definition of sweetness, wonderfully fragrant with a candy-like aroma and hints of lemon, tropical fruit, molasses, honeyed tea and chocolate” 

Juan de Dios Blanco nervously watched the live auction in Caranavi with other winning farmersand spoke about his experience, “After returning from the competition in Santa Cruz I could not believe the results. Now I very convinced of having won and I am extremely happy together with my family. This experience with out doubt will change the quality of life for my whole family and for all of the growers in my area. This is what Cup of Excellence is doing for us!” 

For years Bolivian coffee has been sold at a paltry price to the rest of the marketplace due to inconsistent quality, but through very successful targeted agronomic assistance funded by the U.S. Government through the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) both dramatic quality improvements and the Cup of Excellence program have been made available. “Thanks to the support of USAID in promoting us growers involved in the coffee business, the Bolivian coffee is now known worldwide. Five years ago nothing was known about Bolivian coffee but now thanks to this support we have gained prestige in the marketplace. This is very important for all of us coffee growers.” Blanco continued. 

The coffees auctioned on December 1st were winners of the Cup of Excellence competition held inmid-October in Santa Cruz, Bolivia. The coffees had scored very high in all of the rigorous, required cuppings during the competition process. These coffees represented the best coffees of this year’s harvest. Forty-one companies from Norway, Japan, Germany, Finland, USA, Canada, and the UKbought the winning auction coffees and will now introduce their clientele to Bolivian coffee resulting in improved image and sales for the farmers of Bolivia in the future.  Of course, only those customers of Coffee Klatch and the Small Axe Coffee Roasters group will be able to enjoy the Number One Coffee from Juan de Dios Blanco.