In a significant boost to Ethiopia’s coffee industry, the Ethiopian Coffee and Tea Authority announced the top 40 contestants in the fourth Special Coffee Tasting Competition. In collaboration with the Ethiopian National Coffee Association and the Alliance for Coffee Excellence, the Authority unveiled the top contestants on July 11, 2024, from a pool of over 800 participating coffee farmers.
Over the past six months, more than 800 small-scale coffee farmers, each managing less than 20 hectares, competed for a spot in this prestigious event. After rigorous national-level evaluations, 150 contestants from regions including Jimma, Hawassa, Dire Dawa, and Addis Ababa advanced to the next stage.
The top 40 farmers, who met stringent criteria, will now compete internationally. Their exceptional coffees will be auctioned online at the end of August 2024, offering them a chance to achieve premium prices and global recognition.Beyond global recognition, winners will also receive awards for their outstanding achievements.
ShafiUmer, Deputy Director General of the Authority, emphasized the competition’s transformative impact on Ethiopian coffee. This annual event, now in its fourth year, “significantly benefits our farmers and elevates the quality of Ethiopian coffee on the global stage,” he said.
The 3rd Cup of Excellence competition in 2022 saw Ethiopian coffee earn international acclaim, with prices reaching USD 10 per kilogram. This year’s top three finishers include Basha Bekele, Mathews Lemesana, and BukutoDure.
Originally launched in Brazil in 1999, the All-Taste Coffee Tasting Competition aims to empower coffee farmers and traders by securing better value for their products. The competition has since expanded market access for Ethiopian coffee and set new standards for quality improvement.
Tim Stein, Deputy Director of US Agency for International Development (USAID), praised the unique flavors of Ethiopian coffee and highlighted USAID’s ongoing support since 2020. “We’ve established coffee warehouses, a research lab, and trained nearly 100 quality graders,” Stein noted. He added that these efforts have helped Ethiopian coffee exporters and producers raise over USD 7.5 million.
Coffee is considered the backbone of the Ethiopian economy, generating USD 1.5 billion in foreign exchange. USAID’s business support improves the competitiveness of coffee sales by enhancing productivity, quality, and market access, supporting farmers, cooperatives, and other industry stakeholders.
On July 11, the USAID-sponsored Cup of Excellence coffee competition was held at the Hilton Hotel, where participants were honored for their premium coffee beans which attract some of the highest prices on the world market.
In past competitions, approximately 20 percent of coffee enterprises that participated in the Cup of Excellence competition improved their ‘quality’ scores to 80 percent and above.USAID-supported coffee businesses increased revenue by an average of 63 percent, with 16 of the 40 participants more than doubling their revenue.
Hussein Ambo, President of the Ethiopian National Coffee Association, underscored the competition’s pivotal role in supporting coffee farmers, particularly women, and linking them to global buyers. “The Cup of Excellence has provided market access for smallholder farmers, raising their household income and setting standards for premium prices,” Hussein said.
Despite logistical challenges, the Ethiopian Coffee and Tea Authority and national media continue to promote participation in the competition. According to Hussein, the Cup of Excellence has significantly impacted Ethiopian coffee farmers, promoting quality improvement and connecting them to global markets willing to pay premium prices.
This year’s event also featured notable contributions from partners like Youngto Coffee. CEO Usan Chung donated a green technology solar system to this year’s winner, further showcasing the collaborative spirit within the industry.
Looking ahead, the Authority aims to achieve USD 1.4 billion in coffee exports in 2024, reinforcing Ethiopia’s position as a global coffee powerhouse.
