Issue link: https://read.dmtmag.com/i/491371
STiR tea & coffee industry international 25 NEWS By Sunalini Menon Coffee cuppers evaluated the best of 277 samples of fine Indian coffee just prior to COTECA. Prizes were later awarded nationally and for the best regional coffees in several categories. Top among the 87 arabica contestants was Banglaore's Badra Jagalikal Estate for its SLN-4 (Agaro). Badnekhan Estate in Chikmagalur was named top specialty arabica for its Parchment Bulk SLN 9 varietal. The best robusta was awarded to Harley 'B' Estate in Sakaleshpura Taluk, Karnataka for its "AB" Old Peredenia. A Kaapi Royal Organic Robusta Peredenia from Devaracadoo Estate in South Kodagu was named the best specialty robusta. The Coffee Board of India annually presents The Fine Cup Award trophy to encourage excellence in a country with a well-established reputation in the production of both arabica and robusta. A national jury narrowed the competition to 62 arabica and 54 robusta samples. A panel of 13 international judges selected the best tasting coffee in the final round in Hamburg. The 41 highest scoring samples were then tasted by judges that included cuppers from some of the largest and best-known coffee companies in the world. Regional winners, by category include: Flavor of India and Switzerland," explained Villalobos. "Since we are located in Germany, we have easy access to transportation to supply potential customers located in neighboring countries. Our coffee is a single-origin product and we guarantee what is inside each bag: 100% Arabica grown, matured, roasted and packed in Costa Rica." A COTECA-first, coffee from the Caribbean U.S. territory of Puerto Rico was represented by import company Café Ponce PR UK and its German owner, Bruno V Bruchhof. The firm showcased its star product, Café Gripinas, a single-origin coffee from Hacienda Gripinas, an estate located at 1,300 meters at Cerro Punta, the highest peak of Puerto Rico's Cordillera Mountains. Other Puerto Rican specialty coffees introduced by the included several Bourbon varieties like Orange Bourbon, Caturra, Catuai, and Mundo Novo. "Considering that rust disease continues to affect other Central American coffee producers, and that there is a limited supply of coffee worldwide, the Puerto Rican government decided the time was right to support Puerto Rican coffee farmers," Bruchhof explained. COTECA visitors could sample Peruvian coffee at a booth sponsored by the Hamburg branch of the country's Economic and Trade Bureau. While the products of its giant South American neighbor Brazil are well known, Peru coffees are still a little under-promoted, so the COTECA appearance was most welcome. The exhibition hall was naturally dominated by tea and coffee companies but one of the most interesting ancillary products was the ingenious range of vacuum-sealable TightVac storage containers for coffee and tea marketed by Czech Republic-based Tightpac Europe (a subsidiary of Tightpac America). Whole bean or ground coffee is notoriously difficult to store for longer periods without losing much of its aroma. TightVac jars and containers, in many sizes and designs feature a simple valve that creates a vacuum inside the container as soon as the lid is closed, effectively protecting the aroma for months. Coffee Region Best Arabica Best Robusta CHIKMAGALUR M.S.& Kotordie Estates Netrakonda Estate NILGIRIS Silver Cloud Estate BILIGIRIES Attikan Estate Mylemoney Estate COORG Suntikoppa Estate Yemmigoondi Estate BABABUDABGIRIS Badra Bettadakhan Estate MANJARABAD Ubban Estate - Baghya Estate Ubban Estate PULNEYS Regis Estate ARAKKU VALLEY Minimuluru Estate ANAMALAIS Valparai Estate Valparai Estate SHEVAROYS Moon Estate Manamboli Estate Valparai Fine Cup Award Judges: Klaus Langen, Langen Kaffe; Stefan Richer, Berliner Keffee- rosterei Giest; Alexander Marcks, Benecke Coffee, Hamburg; Tim Albrecht, J J Darboven; Stella Freiling, Interamerican Coffee; Thomas Luttmann, Heinrich Christen; Alfons Sch- ramer, Mondo del Caffe; AndreasWessel – Ellermann, Speicherstadt Keffeerosterei; Thimo Drews, Speicherstadt Keffeerosterei; Alexander Pfuhl, Benecke Coffee, Hamburg; Sebastian Breuer, Elbgold Rostkaffee; Sunalini Menon, Coffeelab, India and K. Basavaraj, Coffee Board of India From left, Purnesh DM, Dr. Vidhu Nair, council-general of India, presenting thank-you gifts to international jury members of the Fine Cup Awards