Following a year’s hiatus, the Ethiopian Cup of Excellence auction returned on 27 August and broke the current record set in 2022.
Los Angeles specialty roaster Angelino’s placed the highest bid of $445.00 per pound.
“We’re absolutely ecstatic to break a record with Ethiopia”, says Kirk Bedrossian of Angelino’s.
“This milestone is a celebration of the extraordinary craftsmanship of the farmers and the incredible work of the Cup of Excellence team. To be part of this historic moment is beyond thrilling. We can’t wait to share these exceptional coffees and honour their amazing journey.”
Bedrossian purchased the beans from winning farmer Basha Bekele Butusha.
“This achievement is a dream come true. The price our coffee fetched at the auction is beyond what we ever imagined. It’s not just a victory for us but for all Ethiopian coffee farmers,” he says.
“We are deeply honoured that our hard work and dedication to our craft have been recognised on the global stage. This success inspires us to continue growing the best coffee we can, and we are excited about what the future holds for Ethiopian coffee.”
The Ethiopian auction featured 29 and lasted almost 9 hours, with an average price of well over $24 per pound.
Cup of Excellence says the award recognition and the auction price, which goes to an individual farmer, often builds entire communities and regions. The goal of the 25-year-old program is to create the incentive and the transparency that allows high-quality farmers to prosper while at the same time building marketplace support.
Find out about the history of Cup of Excellence here.
