Issue link: https://read.dmtmag.com/i/491371
STiR tea & coffee industry international 17 flavourtech Processing Excellence The Spinning Cone Column makes it possible! www.fl avourtech.com √ Recover valuable tea aroma while brewing √ Continuous processing of tea slurry √ 25 second residence time √ Select YOUR preferred fl avour profi le The process of evaluation also changed. The Specialty Coffee of Association of America (SCAA) developed a 0-100 scale and evaluation form that was adopted at the very begin- ning of the project, but the judges faced a technical challenge. Silvio Leite, the head judge since the program's creation, explained that an evaluation of acidity wasn't included on the SCAA form. "We didn't know how to evaluate acidity," remembered Leite. "So, during that time, we just described whether the acidity was positive or negative. George Howell and I rede- signed the COE sheet and, nowadays, this quality standard is used around the world," he explains. The 100th edition reunited international buyers and participants who had been involved since the beginning. In addition to identifying the best coffee in Brazil, it was a reunion that stirred lots of memories. Unlike past years there were 12 scoring judges, representing 10 countries. The COE competi- tion was conducted in three rounds: pre-selection, national jury, and international jury. Coffees under 85 points were eliminated. Live online auctions have generated $43 million for farmers according to Spindler with 83% of proceeds returned to farmers and 17% financing host country coffee associations. Bidders span the entire global coffee community of roaster/ retailers and importers. Top prices ranged from a high of $2.60 in 1999 to a 2005 high of $49.75 per pound ($109.45 per kilo). The average price/lb. spans a range from $1.38 per pound in 2000 to $8.80 in 2012. After a week of intense cuppings (each coffee is cupped at least five times) and short trips to the fields, the winners were announced. The 2014 Brazil Early Harvest was very particular This photo for the history books shows 30 scoring judges, representing 10 countries at the 100th COE edition since a non-traditional coffee producer state had the five top scored lots: Bahia. Another curious fact is that most of washed coffee from 21 producers had scores greater than 85. First-place winner Ladeia Rosa received $50.20 per lb., earning $106,223 at auction Nov. 26. Finishing second was Antonio Rigno de Oliveira from Chácara São Judas Tadeu. His coffee scored 93.36 points earning $29.20 per lb. at auction. In third place, and the only woman in the top five: Zora Yonara Macedo Pina Oliveira, from Chácara Tijuco, with 92.26 points ($15.65 lb). She is followed by Eulino José de Novais, from Fazenda Santa Bárbara, with 90.14 points ($10.90 lb). The university setting gave judges and competition guests an opportunity to talk to Brazilian coffee scientists and to student researchers. Participants also toured coffee farms with different approaches to cultivation in the mountains near Viçosa. Learn more at: www.allianceforcoffeeexcellence.org/en/ Photos by Joel Shuler courtesy BSCA NEWS