Premium, award-winning Colombian coffee creates online buzz
A contestant pours coffee for the judges during the World Barista Coffee Championship in Bogota on June 2, 2011.
AFP PHOTO/Eitan Abramovich
One of the finest, most expensive cups of coffee today boasts a floral, jasmine aroma, has a lingering creamy aftertaste, background notes of vibrant cherries and an "effervescence" that lends the java a robust and round sweetness.
That was the verdict of an international jury of coffee experts who awarded Colombian farmer Primavera the Cup of Excellence last week - an assessment that fueled an online bidding war and saw American, Australian and Taiwanese coffee companies join together to pay more than $100,000 (€68,192) for 2,300 lbs (1,043 kg) of unroasted coffee.
After Colombia's record-breaking online auction, other coffee farmers are also likely abuzz with anticipation as winning farms from El Salvador, Costa Rica, Guatemala and Honduras will be selling their coffee in the next few weeks. Nicaragua auctioned their coffee Tuesday.
The Cup of Excellence honors the best coffee produced in nine coffee growing countries around the world as evaluated by a panel of international experts. The winners are awarded the Cup of Excellence and sold to the highest bidder during an internet auction.
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